From: Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have ambushed and killed three Policemen and five local vigilante members on Saturday in Ajaokuta area of Kogi state.
According to an eye-witness account, the killing occurred on Saturday when community members reported at the Ajaokuta Divisional Police headquarters that hoodlums had invaded their farms and were engaging in illegal activities.
The eye-witness account had it that the DPO immediately mobilised his men and some local vigilantes and moved to the area to unravel the criminal activities and curtail possible attack on the community.
The source however said that unknown to the security team the hoodlums had got wind of their planned onslaught and laid ambush for the security personnel only to open fire on them as they got within range.
Eight of them including three policemen and five Vigilance group members were gunned down by the hoodlums in the unexpected attack.
Their bodies, according to the highly competent source, were later evacuated and deposited at the Federal Medical Center, Lokoja.
Commander Jerry Omadara (rtd), Kogi state security Adviser, who confirmed the attack said that the Divisional Police Officer acted on intelligence report.
Omodara said that the DPO got an intelligence report that some hoodlums had invaded the farms and were engaging in illegal activities.
He said that the DPO, in collaboration with local vigilance groups mobilised officers to the area but were, however, ambushed and eight of them including three Police Officers and five members of the local vigilantes killed.
Omadara assured the people of the state that no matter what, security agencies in the state would not rest as no stone would be left unturned until the culprits were brought to book.
He reiterated the state government’s stance under Governor Yahaya Bello, to provide adequate protection for the people at all times adding that Saturday’s incident would never be allowed to repeat itself.
