Gunmen numbering about nine have attacked the police team stationed at Nkpo Market, near Onitsha, Anambra State.

It was gathered that the men struck at about 8.30pm on Tuesday.

One policeman was confirmed killed in the attack, while another was shot in the leg.

It was gathered that an AK-47 rifle belonging to one of the policemen on the team was snatched by the gunmen.

Sources said the gang members took the policemen unaware and opened fire on them.

One of the sources said, “They were going for another mission, but they saw the policemen and headed towards them, shooting one of them dead. The dead policeman was later identified as Sergeant Mathew Julius. They snatched his AK-47 rifle.

“Another policeman, Sergeant David Alex, was shot in the leg, but he escape through the gutter.”

Our correspondent gathered that two other AK-47 rifles that were kept in the police vehicle when the robbers struck were not stolen.

The Ogidi Divisional Police Officer, Mr Hassan Musa, said, “We took the dead and the injured policemen to Borromeo Hospital. Investigation is ongoing to arrest the fleeing robbers.”