Unknown gunmen on Saturday attacked police officers at checkpoints in Omagwa and Omuanwa communities in Ikwere Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Peoples Gazette learnt that the gunmen simultaneously attacked the checkpoints, killing some security officers and carted away with their guns.

The Gazette could not immediately confirm the number of casualties during the attack but some reports pegged the figure at four.

A source in the Omuanwa community who pleaded anonymity due to the tense security situation in the area told The Gazette that vehicles of security officers were also carted away.

State police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni in a terse statement said: “I can confirm the attack on security Personnel along the Omagwa/ Isiokpo/Elele Owerri Road. Details sketchy.”

He said the state police commissioner has launched a full scale investigation into the dastardly attack with a view to arresting the perpetrators and bringing them to justice. 

Mr Omoni further said the area is calm as a detachment of joint security patrol has been deployed to the troubled area.

Meanwhile governor of Rivers Nyesom Wike has condemned the attacks on security officers. 

In a statement signed by his spokesman Kelvin Ebiri, the governor described the act as “barbaric and dastardly”, saying there is no justification for such heinous acts.

“We condemn this heinous act, share the grief of the security agencies and convey our sincere condolences,” the governor said.

Mr Wike urged security forces to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to justice.