[JUST IN] Gunmen In White Bus Kill Two Soldiers, A Civilian At Checkpoint In Ebonyi

*…as hoodlums burn a section of Federal High Court,
Abakaliki

THERE seems to be uneasiness in Ebonyi State, following the
shooting of two soldiers and a civilian at a checkpoint in the
State, Vanguard reports.

The incident which occurred on Monday night revealed that
unknown gunmen shot the two soldiers and the civilian at a
checkpoint on the Timber Junction area, in the Afikpo North Local
Government Area of the state.

Those injured as a result of the incident were rushed to an
undisclosed hospital for treatment while the deceased were
deposited at the hospital.

The Vanguard gathered that the victims were attacked at about
8.48 pm of the penultimate day as their riffles were reportedly
carted away. Other soldiers at the Checkpoint ran inside the bush
for safety.

A community source, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of
anonymity, said the gunmen arrived at the checkpoint in a white bus
and as the military men stopped them for a search, they opened fire
on them.

According to him, the situation threw the two busy towns of
Amasiri and Afikpo into panic, as natives especially petty traders
hurriedly packed their goods and went home.

“It’s a very sad situation here. They said it was people
suspected to gunmen, who came to the checkpoint at Timber Shade
(boundary Ehugbo and Amasiri) in the white bus.

“As usual, it appeared the military was checking them and all of
a sudden, they opened fire on them. Two of the military men, a man
and woman, died. Others ran away.

“The area is as quiet as the graveyard. These bordering villages
used to be very busy and people here are farmers and traders. But
the moment that happened, people started going home. Nobody is seen
outside as I speak to you. Every place is calm. There is fear here
now. My brother, the world is about to end,” the source said.

A reliable security source confirmed the incident at the time of
filing this report.

Vanguard gathered that the DPO of Afikpo North LGA is said to be
aware of the incident but has not yet notified the Public Relations
Department of the Ebonyi State Police Command.

This is coming barely 10 days after three policemen were shot
dead by gunmen in the state.

In a related development, a section of the Federal High Court in
Abakaliki is said to have been gutted by fire in the early hours of
Tuesday.

A source who spoke to Vanguard explained that the attack was
carried out by hoodlums as firefighters had intervened to bring the
inferno under control.

*…as hoodlums burn a section of Federal High Court,
Abakaliki

THERE seems to be uneasiness in Ebonyi State, following the
shooting of two soldiers and a civilian at a checkpoint in the
State, Vanguard reports.

The incident which occurred on Monday night revealed that
unknown gunmen shot the two soldiers and the civilian at a
checkpoint on the Timber Junction area, in the Afikpo North Local
Government Area of the state.

Those injured as a result of the incident were rushed to an
undisclosed hospital for treatment while the deceased were
deposited at the hospital.

The Vanguard gathered that the victims were attacked at about
8.48 pm of the penultimate day as their riffles were reportedly
carted away. Other soldiers at the Checkpoint ran inside the bush
for safety.

A community source, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of
anonymity, said the gunmen arrived at the checkpoint in a white bus
and as the military men stopped them for a search, they opened fire
on them.

According to him, the situation threw the two busy towns of
Amasiri and Afikpo into panic, as natives especially petty traders
hurriedly packed their goods and went home.

“It’s a very sad situation here. They said it was people
suspected to gunmen, who came to the checkpoint at Timber Shade
(boundary Ehugbo and Amasiri) in the white bus.

“As usual, it appeared the military was checking them and all of
a sudden, they opened fire on them. Two of the military men, a man
and woman, died. Others ran away.

“The area is as quiet as the graveyard. These bordering villages
used to be very busy and people here are farmers and traders. But
the moment that happened, people started going home. Nobody is seen
outside as I speak to you. Every place is calm. There is fear here
now. My brother, the world is about to end,” the source said.

A reliable security source confirmed the incident at the time of
filing this report.

Vanguard gathered that the DPO of Afikpo North LGA is said to be
aware of the incident but has not yet notified the Public Relations
Department of the Ebonyi State Police Command.

This is coming barely 10 days after three policemen were shot
dead by gunmen in the state.

In a related development, a section of the Federal High Court in
Abakaliki is said to have been gutted by fire in the early hours of
Tuesday.

A source who spoke to Vanguard explained that the attack was
carried out by hoodlums as firefighters had intervened to bring the
inferno under control.