Gunmen Sack Police Station …DPO, 3 Officers Killed in Edo

Agency Report/

Gunmen today attacked the Divisional Police Command at Afuze, headquarters of the Owan-East Local Government Area of Edo State, killing the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and three other officers on duty.

According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the bandits also attacked the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the town, destroyed electoral materials and burnt down a police van in the compound.

The officers killed in the attack were identified as Supt. Tosimani Ojo, the DPO of the station; Sgt. Justina Aghomon, a pregnant woman, Insp. Sado Isaac and Cpl. Glory David.

An eyewitness, Mr Godwin Ikpekhia, said that the incident occurred at about 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, while many of the officers in the division had gone on outside duties.

He said, “We only heard gunshots and nobody knew what actually happened until Wednesday morning.

“The divisional police officer, alongside three other officers who were on duty were killed on the spot, inside the building.

“The hoodlums didn’t just stop at that; they went to the INEC office and were shooting sporadically at policemen who were on duty there.

“Election materials and a police van at the INEC office were burnt by the hoodlums.’’

The Edo State commissioner of police, Mr Muhammed Danmallam, who visited the scene, said that investigation had commence immediately.

Danmallam vowed that those responsible for the attacks would be brought to book.

“Urgent steps will be taken to curb the increasing cases of criminality in the Owan axis of the state,’’ he said.

On July 14, last year, four police officers were killed at a checkpoint in the Owan area and burnt inside their Hilux Patrol van.

Also on January 23, this year, the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly candidate for Owan-West, Mr Ohio Ezomo, was kidnapped and his orderly killed on the spot.