By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Police command in Ebonyi State has confirmed the attack of a military checkpoint on the ever-busy Amangwu Area of Amasiri-Owutu federal road in Edda Local Government of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Joshua Ukandu, said that information available from the Owutu Police Division has it that some hoodlums attacked the military checkpoint in the early hours of Friday.

According to Ukandu, though it is not yet ascertained if there was casualties. The attack was carried out by yet-to-be-identified gunmen operating in a motorcycle.

A community source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that a soldier was killed while one of the gunmen was also killed by the soldiers during the attack.

“There was an attack this morning at the Amangwu Military Checkpoint and there two persons were killed. From the information available, a soldier was killed and one of the gunmen was also killed by the soldiers,” the source said.

It was gathered that the attack caused panic and apprehension in the area as motorists and commuters plying the federal road had to spend hours to ensure that normalcy had returned to the area.

Reacting to the attack, some elders of the community who condemned the dastardly act said those behind it are enemies of the state and the community.

They are those who are not happy with the peace that the community have witnessed in the last two years.

A community leader, Chief Orji Ama, said: “We woke up this morning to hear about the attack at one of the military checkpoints in our local government. It was an unfortunate incident. It left many of us in shock as we have not witnessed any attack in our local government in the last two years.

“Just recently, part of our community known for hostility celebrated seven months of peace and unity. Only for some hoodlums to attack the military check point. The presence of the military in our local government has brought about peace in the community and we are happy.”

He called on the security Agencies to go after the perpetrators of the dastardly act with a view to arresting and prosecuting them. Edda is a peaceful community and anyone who under the guise of unknown gunmen to cause havoc in the community must be fished out and prosecuted.

Another Community Leader, Chief James Chima who also condemned the attack maintained that the community will go all out to assist the security Agencies to ensure the security of lives and properties of its indigenes are protected.

Chima said that an attack on the military checkpoint is a complete sabotage to the peace and security being witnessed in the local government adding that hoodlums cannot sabotage the peace and security in the local government.

“The attack could be best be described as sabotage. It is a sabotage to the peace and security the local government had witnessed in the last 2 years. Enemies of the local government wants to bring about insecurity again in the community but we will do everything to resist it.

“The military presence has also helped immensely to ensure peace and security of the local government. That security and peace will never be truncated by those parading as unknown gunmen. The security Agencies must go all out to fish out the hoodlums and ensure they face the full wrath of the law.