By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
Gunmen have killed two soldiers at a military checkpoint located at Timber Junction area in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The gunmen, who were said to have arrived the checkpoint by 9pm on Monday, opened fire on the soldiers.
A source, who confirmed the killing, said: “The gunmen also carted away the riffles of the two dead soldiers.”
A source also said the gunmen opened fire as the military men stopped them for a search.
According to him, the situation threw the two busy towns of Amasiri and Afikpo into panic, as residents, especially petty traders hurriedly packed their goods and went home.
“It’s a very sad situation here. They said it was people suspected to be gunmen, who came to the checkpoint at Timber Shade (boundary Ehugbo and Amasiri) in white bus.
“As usual, it appeared the military were 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.
The Military was yet to react at the time of filling the report.
Commissioner for Police, Mr Garba Aliyu, could not pick calls and was yet to respond to a text message sent on the matter.
Spokesperson of the command, Loveth Odah, also failed to respond to queries for comment on the incident.
The attack is coming barely 10 days after three policemen were shot dead by gunmen in the state.
Gunmen have ramped up attacks on security agencies in the southeast and south south recently.
There have been deadly attacks on the police and military in the past one week.
In one of such attacks, four soldiers were killed in an attack at an hotel in a Rivers State community on Sunday.
Also, soldiers were said to be among eight security officials killed on Sunday by gunmen along the Omagwa/Isiokpo/Elele Owerri Road in Rivers State.
In Imo State, Nigeria’s South-east, gunmen attacked and set ablaze the country home of the state governor, Hope Uzodinma, on Saturday.
Within the past one week, there have been deadly attacks on police facilities in Enugu and Anambra states.