Suspected gunmen killed three policemen and burned their vehicle during a gun battle in Nnewi, Anambra state.
The state police public relations officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed that two officers were killed, but a resident told The Nation that three officers lost their lives.
The resident also stated that after killing the officers, the gunmen set their vehicle on fire in the early hours of Thursday, October 3.
The area has been plagued by killings and kidnappings over the past year.
Ikenga, a Superintendent of Police, stated in a release on Thursday in Awka that the command, along with Joint Security Forces JSF, has commenced a manhunt for the attackers.
He said: “Joint Security Force, begins manhunt operation on armed men who murdered two police operatives on investigation activities in the early hours of today at Uruagu, Nnewi North local government area.
“Preliminary information reveals that the armed men started shooting sporadically on sighting the police operatives and threw an improvised explosive into their operational vehicle.
“Unfortunately, two of the operatives paid the supreme price while the vehicle caught fire.
“Given the above, the command calls on members of the public especially the eyewitnesses and others to aid the ongoing Police operations in the area.” (Nation)