From Uchenna Ezeadigwe,
Awka
It was a sad weekend for the Nigeria Navy, when some unknown gunmen attacked an Onitsha Outpost Station in Anambra State shooting one officer dead and leaving another seriously injured.
News Echo correspondent gathered that the yet to be identified gunmen who stormed the military checkpoint along the ever-busy Onitsha/Owerri road, near the stockfish market, Onitsha, allegedly carted away some sophisticated weapons that were assigned to the victims.
It was also learnt that the gunmen, in their large number, rode in two utility vehicles when they stormed the Naval checkpoint and gunned down one of the Naval personnel, having allegedly chop off one of the hands of the military man.
According to an eyewitness who identified himself as Ikechukwu, he said the incident took the naval staff by surprise, which led to the bandits to overpowering the Navy officers.
“The gun men who are in their large number, more than 20, came with two SUV vehicles and shot one of the military officer dead, injured one and took away their service rifles” he stated.
Meanwhile, the body of the deceased was said to have been deposited in a yet to be disclosed morgue in Anambra State while investigation on how to apprehend the suspects is ongoing.
When contacted for comment, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, CSP Mohammed Haruna, referred journalists to contact the woman in charge of the Naval Public Relations office.
Reacting, the Onitsha Naval Commander, Captain Innocent Udoh Udoh, was reached by newsmen, confirmed the attack saying that the victims were in critical condition in a yet to be disclosed hospital and declined further comment.
