The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed that gunmen attacked a police checkpoint along Agbani Road on Thursday night, killing two police officers and setting a patrol vehicle on fire.

According to the police, the attack occurred on January 15, 2026, when suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), opened fire on operatives of the Police Distress Response Squad stationed at the checkpoint.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the assailants launched the attack without provocation.

“The criminal elements suddenly opened fire on the police team. The operatives responded promptly, forcing the attackers to flee with varying degrees of gunshot injuries,” Ndukwe said in a statement issued on Friday.

He explained that during the exchange of gunfire, a police operational vehicle was set ablaze, while two officers sustained critical gunshot wounds. The officers were rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention, but were later pronounced dead by medical personnel.

Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, CP Mamman Giwa, ordered an immediate and intensified manhunt for the attackers. He directed tactical and intelligence units of the command to deploy all available resources to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.

“The Commissioner has charged operatives to leverage actionable intelligence and sustain the trail of the assailants until they are apprehended and brought to justice,” Ndukwe added.

The police also confirmed the recovery of a Lexus RX 330 SUV, which was reportedly snatched from its owner by the attackers and used during the operation. The vehicle was said to have multiple bullet holes from the gun battle.

CP Giwa appealed to members of the public to provide useful information that could aid in the arrest of the suspects, assuring residents that the command remains committed to protecting lives and property.

Investigations into the attack are ongoing, while security patrols have been intensified in the area to prevent further incidents.