By CHARLES IWUOHA

Two police officers have been shot dead by suspected unknown gunmen who attacked an Ebonyi Police checkpoint.

According to a viral video that surfaced on social media, the two police officers were seen lying lifeless at the scene of the attack on Friday.

Reacting, the Ebonyi state Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, in a statement, confirmed the attack and called on the general public to avail the Command of useful information that could lead to the arrest of the fleeing hoodlums.

According to the Ebonyi Police image maker, “Today 17/11/2023 at about 08:30am, Operatives of the Command on patrol at Nwofe road atthe outskirt of Abakaliki were attacked by armed hoodlums suspected to be IPOB/ESN members, using a tinted Highlander vehicle with registration number unknown.

"Two of the Operatives were fatally wounded while one (1) is currently receiving medical treatment at the hospital.”

"The Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Police Command, CP Augustina Ogbodo, on receiving the distress call, immediately dispatched Tactical teams to the scene, who equally swung into action by giving the hoodlums a hot chase but they escaped.

"The Commissioner of Police also visited the scene of the incident with her management team for on the spot assessment.

"She is using this medium to call on well-meaning individuals of the state to avail the Command with useful information thatcan lead to the arrest of the fleeing hoodlums while assuring them of round-the-clock visibility patrol of the nooks and crannies of the state," the statement added.