Gunmen opened fire on a checkpoint by naval personnel at Owerri Road in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Tuesday night causing panic in the neighbourhood, FIJ can report.

“The shooting was at Owerri road by Upper Iweka and it happened all through last night. We don’t know why, but people are panicking right now,” a resident told FIJ.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Anambra, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed reports of gunshots and revealed that a military outpost was attacked by gunmen.

“It’s a naval pin-down point along that Owerri road that was attacked,” DSP Tochukwu said. “From our investigation, an unmarked, tinted vehicle drove to the checkpoint and started shooting at the soldiers.”

“I’ve not gotten any detail on it,” the PPRO said in response to whether there were casualties.

He said that investigations were going on towards apprehending the attackers.

A day before the latest attack, at least nine people were killed by assailants who invaded Ukpomachi community, Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area.

The previous week, two officers were killed in when gunmen attacked Zone 13 police headquarters at Ukpo, near Awka.