By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Three police officers have been reportedly killed by assailants at a checkpoint in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

A viral video on social media showed the police officers, reportedly killed on Thursday, lying in the pool of their own blood.

The incident, which was said to have occurred around 12 noon, reportedly caused pandemonium in the area as the gunmen shot indiscriminately for over an hour.

According to an eye witness, the gunmen, who were operating in unmarked dark Sports Utility Vehicle, killed the cops at the joint security checkpoint at Ihite road in the area.

He said: “It was like war. For over one hour the hoodlums were shooting indiscriminately. I saw three policemen lying dead on the ground during the attack, while others took cover and shooting back from a distance. I suspect that some of the policemen also sustained gunshot injuries in the attack”

Reacting to the attack, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, described the incident as unfortunate, saying that reinforcement teams were already in the area.

He said: “It is an unfortunate incident and is part of the highest price security officers pay in serving the nation but the police command is not deterred by this development.

“The reinforcement teams are already in the area and the manhunt for the assailants is ongoing while a joint security patrols have been intensified in the area.”