Police blamed the attacks on a separatist group known as the Indigenous People of Biafra, or IPOB, which wants the southeast region to gain independence from the West African country.
NIGERIA SEEKS $1.3 BILLION IN AID TO DEAL WITH EXTREMIST VIOLENCE
Nigeria's officials said that suspected separatist gunmen killed eight police officers days before presidential voting. (Fox News)
Authorities have accused the IPOB of instigating violence which has led to many deaths in the conflict-riddled region and stoked fears about the ability of Nigeria's security forces to protect voters at the polls.
The election commission might not be able to deploy to some polling stations because of security concerns, said Festus Okoye, an official with Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission.
"The security agencies have promised that they have the capacity to secure our communities to make it possible for people to vote," he said. "(But) for people in zones that are still in conflict, there is absolutely nothing we can do."