The development caused panic among residents of the state, especially as it occurred a few metres from the Government House.
The Nigeria Police Force has launched a manhunt for the gunmen that killed five people including three policemen in New Haven, Enugu State capital on Wednesday night.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that gunmen suspected to be armed robbers killed three policemen and two civilians who were hit by stray bullets.
The development caused panic among residents of the state, especially as it occurred a few metres from the Government House.
A military source who disclosed the incident to SaharaReporters added that a police officer was also abducted by the gunmen during the attack.
“Three police officers were killed in Chime Avenue, Block bus stop at New Haven, Enugu. The incident happened around 9:20 pm on Wednesday night. Two civilians were also confirmed dead, one policeman was abducted by the gunmen.
“The bodies of the victims have been deposited at a mortuary,” he said.
A security alert sent out by nearby residents read: “It happened at Block bus stop in front of Frank supermarket.
“Three policemen down already. Guys for our information, in case we still dey outside avoid New Haven (In case you are still outside, avoid New Haven).
“Two battered policemen are still lying lifeless here.”
The message was accompanied by a video showing dead policemen inside a gutter.
The spokesman for the Enugu State Police Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, while confirming the incident, said an intensive manhunt had been launched to find the killers.
He said the assailants who drove a Lexus SUV, suddenly opened fire on a moving police patrol van on duty, along Chime Avenue in New Haven.
Ndukwe, however, didn't provide further details about the incident.
SaharaReporters reports that in the past few months, several police officers have been killed by gunmen in Enugu.
On June 30, gunmen attacked a police checkpoint along Agbani Road, close to Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway, killing two officers.
On June 4, two officers from the state police command died from bullet wounds sustained in a duel with gunmen.
Also, four police officers were killed in another attack along Amaechi-Ekeotu-Agbani Road in Enugu south council area.