Gunmen have shot and killed four policemen at a checkpoint in Calabar, Cross River State capital.

The incident reportedly happened in the wee hours of Thursday, 25 February, 2021.

The gunmen were said to have swooped on the unsuspecting policemen at Ayanmbat community near Idundu in the Aka Efa area of the Cross River capital.

The policemen whose identities had not been disclosed were said to have been killed while resting at the location.

Neighbours, who heard the gunshots, said they thought it was a robbery attack.

When reporters visited the scene in the morning, six bodies, including those of civilians, were seen and blood stains were all over the place.

The state Commissioner of Police, Sikiru Kayode Akande, confirmed that suspected cultists shot and killed four of his men.

Kayode said the police succeeded not only in recovering some of the arms the suspects carted away but also arresting many of the culprits.

The commissioner, who said the officers were not on official duty at the point of the incident, added that the security checkpoint where they were killed was formerly used by the military.

He assured that he had enough information about the culprits who should be rounded up within few days.

The tragic incident happened 24 hours after some policemen were killed in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

On Tuesday, hoodlums had attacked a police station in Aba, where two police officers were killed before the station was set on fire.

Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer, later said some of the persons behind the attack had been killed while others had been arrested.

Policemen across the country have become vulnerable to attacks.

Daily Trust