Three police men on a stop and search duty at the administrative headquarters of Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State have been shot dead by Unknown Gunmen on Saturday morning.

The killing of the police men came barely less than 24 hours, Unknown Gunmen also kidnapped and killed the state former Commissioner and Oji-Rivers Local Government Area, Chief Gabriel Onuzuluike, alongside his brother in Nkpokolo-Achi area of the State on Friday.

The three policemen, we learnt, were killed on Saturday morning at a roundabout near the Agbani Divisional Police Headquarters.

Some of the residents said the Unknown Gunmen opened fire on the unsuspecting policemen who were on stop and search duty close to the round about.

Videos made available by passers-by, show the lifeless bodies of the three policemen with a pool of blood on the floor.

Meanwhile, the former Commissioner in Enugu State, Chief Gabriel Onuzuluike and his brother were said to be killed by unknown gunmen when they were returning from a burial ceremony held within Oji-River.

It was gathered that the former Commissioner’s brother was shot dead on the spot while the Onuzuluike was whisked away and later killed and his vehicle taken away by the criminals, according to passers-by.

Spokesperson of the Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Daniel Ndukwe, said a manhunt for some of the unknown gunmen that ran into the bush after they had a contact with policemen on check point has commenced

“Pending the receipt of a detailed report, kindly be informed that preliminary report reveals that two (2) of the assailants, said to have infiltrated into Oji-River from neighbouring Anambra State community, in the evening hours of 18/11/2022, that attacked and murdered one Gabriel Onuzulike (identified as former Chairman of Oji-River Local Government Area and Commissioner in Enugu State Government) and his brother at Nkpokolo-Achi in Oji-River Local Government Area, were neutralized by a Joint Police/Army Team, who swiftly responded to a distress call on the incident and intercepted the hoodlums at Inyi community of the same Local Government Area, as they were escaping into Anambra State.

“The Team further recovered an AK-47 rifle with two magazines loaded with ammunition, while a Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep belonging to the deceased victims, a Toyota Camry car, the assailants attempted to snatch from another victim and a RAV4 Jeep they used for the heinous criminal operation, amongst other incriminating items, were also recovered.

“Meanwhile, manhunt of the assailants, many of whom escaped into nearby forest with severe degrees of gunshot wounds in the ensuing gun duel, as a result of the superior firepower of the Joint Team, is still ongoing. Further development will be communicated, please,” the Police spokesman stated.