Hoodlums kill expatriates, policemen in Kogi, attack station in Imo, kill four officers

Two expatriates and two police inspectors have been confirmed killed in an attack launched against their convoy by gunmen in Kogi.

The two drivers of the expatriates of West Africa Ceramics Company Ajaokuta, Kogi, were also killed.

Police Public Relations Officer of Kogi Police Command, SP William Ovye-Aya, confirmed the incident on Saturday in a statement  in Lokoja, saying that the attack took place along Lokoja-Ajaokuta road around 8:00 pm on Friday.

According to Ovye-Aya, the expatriates were being escorted by the police to the Ceramic company that evening, when the gunmen attacked them.

He said that the Area Commander and a detachment of Military in the area had to reinforced to the scene of incident before the attackers fled.

He further explained that the Kogi Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Edward Egbuka, had visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.

“The CP is assuring the public that the Command is committed to working in synergy with other security agencies as well as patriotic stakeholders to make the State a safe and secure place for all and sundry.

“He has further asked the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to commence investigations into the unfortunate incident so as to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the attack with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book, ” Ovye-Aya added.

In a similar development, no ferret than four police officers have been confirmed died during attack on Agwa Police Division in Oguta Local Government of Imo State by gunmen.

Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Mohammed Barde confirmed this in a press statement issued by the command’s spokesperson CSP Michael Abattam on Saturday.

He said the incident occurred on Friday evening.

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According to Abattam, the gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed Eastern Security Network (ESN), attacked the station with explosive devices and also freed some detainees in the station.

Although the CP said officers at the station and other tactical units from state command repelled the attack, he confirmed that four of his men paid the supreme price.

“On 05/8/2022 at about 2300 hours, hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militia affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) attacked Agwa Police Station in their numbers.

“The hoodlums who came in two vehicles and a tipper, shooting sporadically, used a tipper vehicle in forcing the gate open to gain entrance into the station,  throwing Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDS) and petrol bombs .

“The police operatives of the division joined by the command’s tactical teams gave the hoodlums a stiff resistance, engaging them in a gun duel.

“The hoodlums, who were fatally hit with a lot of casualty on their side, retreated, escaping in their vehicles,” he said.

The CP said fire from the explosives affected a private vehicle parked in the premises of the station while some motorcycles were also affected.

He, however, stated that the main building was not affected.

“In the attack, two suspects in custody escaped, four police officers gallantly paid the supreme price, while one rifle is yet to be recovered,” the CP said.