The attacks on police assets and killing of policemen and other security operatives in the Southeast in the last three months, at the weekend spread to Rivers State.
Multiple attacks on security checkpoints between Omagwa/Isiokpo/Elele Owerri Road led to the killing of soldiers, policemen and Customs men.
In Kaduna, a doctor was killed and four others abducted in church.
There was another mass abduction in Niger State, with 35 people kidnapped at the weekend.
Three military personnel; two policemen and three Customs Service officials were killed in the Rivers attack. Some of them were beheaded with others burnt beyond recognition.
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike ordered security agencies to arrest the gunmen described by the Police as members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
It was gathered that the gunmen numbering 70, entered Omagwa and Elele through the Imo State border.
At about 8 p.m on Saturday, they launched the attacks on four checkpoints between Elele and Omagwa in Ikwerre local government area.
One of the attacked checkpoints located along Airport Road, Omagwa, was manned by Joint Task Force (JTF) operatives made up of nine policemen and two soldiers.
Two burnt bodies of security operatives were recovered at the JTF checkpoint.
The bandits, who stole a rifle, later invaded the checkpoint of the Nigeria Customs Service at Isiokpo, killing three customs officials. They carted away their rifles and two patrol vans.
They attacked the Police Area Command at Isiokpo but were repelled by policemen on duty.
Police spokesman in Rivers, Nnamdi Omoni confirmed the attacks on the checkpoints
He said: “I can confirm the attack on security personnel on the Omagwa/Isiokpo/Elele Owerri Road. “A full-scale Investigation has been launched into the dastardly attacks with a view to arresting the perpetrators and bringing them to justice.”
