Suspected bandits attack Okene Police Area Command, one killed, others seriously injured.
Idris Ahmed, Lokoja.
Kogi State Government and the State Police Command have separately announced the swift repelling of the 30 man gang of bandits that launched a failed attack on the Police Area Command at Okene on Sunday.
A statement signed by the state Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Evangelist Kingsley Fanwo, said Local hunters, men of the Kogi State Vigilante Service, in collaboration with other security operatives have foiled an attack on the Okene Area Command of the Nigerian Police Force late Sunday.
According to the Information Commissioner, the gunmen were effectively repelled and explosives meant to destroy the command were immediately detonated by experts in the state, while one of the attackers was gunned down and others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
Evangelist Fanwo stated further that the counter-attack was coordinated by the Executive Chairmen of Local Government Areas in Kogi Central and the Senior Special Adviser on Security to the Governor in charge of Kogi Central.
The statement read, “The Kogi State Government wishes to report that the Okene Area Command of the Nigerian Police Force was attacked by gunmen numbering over 30 in the late hours of Sunday, February 6, 2022.
“However, they were shown the strength and efficacy of the Kogi security architecture as the local hunters, men of the State Vigilante Service collaborated with other security operatives to spontaneously foil the attack.
“The superior firepower of the combined security network of the state ensured one of them was gunned down immediately while others ran away with various degrees of gunshot wounds. Two of their motorcycles were recovered as well as various arms and ammunition. Also, explosives meant to destroy the command were immediately detonated by experts …
“This is the second time in less than two months that Kogi proved impregnable to criminals as tens of them lost their lives in the attack on Yagba West LGA of the state last December.
“The Executive Governor of the State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, is renowned for stating that, ‘the criminals will come in their numbers but go back in their zeros’. The gunmen have been thoroughly given the Kogi treatment.
“We call on traditional medical homes and other medical facilities to report anyone with gun wounds to the nearest security formation as our local hunters are giving them a run for their money in the bush right now. We shall keep you updated on developments.
“The Governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, wishes to assure all Kogites and residents of the state that he will do everything humanly possible to secure their lives and property.”
Confirming the reported attack on the Okene Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, William Aya (SP) in a statement in Lokoja on Monday, said the gunmen said to be over 30 in number stormed the area Command in Okene shooting sporadically, throwing explosives and shouting “Allahu Akbar” “Allahu Akbar”.
He however said the personnel on duty promptly repelled the assailants and gunned down one of them, forcing the rest to flee some with gunshot injuries, before the arrival of reinforcement from the neighbouring divisions.
According to the statement, the State Commissioner of Police, Edward Chuka Egbuka has ordered immediate deployment of re-enforcement comprising Counter Terrorism Unit, Police Mobile Force, Intelligence team and Quick Response Unit.
The re-enforcement teams also include the military and other security forces with the mandate to track and arrest the bandits so that they can be made to face justice.