•2 policemen were killed —PPRO •As Mark condemns insecurity
GUNMEN invaded a divisional police station in Igumale, Ado Local Government headquarters of Benue State, killing three policemen on duty and one critically injured.
The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the gunmen stormed the police station in the wee hours of Sunday, in a commando manner and shot at policemen on duty, after which they ransacked the armoury and carted away arms.
Eyewitness said the operation lasted for 30 minutes, noting that no one could move out for rescue throughout the period the operation lasted.
“I think it was around midnight that we started hearing gunshots from the police station and, at that time of the day, no one could risk going out, Initially, we thought it was a gun duel between the police and armed robbers.
“At the time the whole thing went down, few people who could muster courage tip-toed to the station, only to behold four policemen in the pool of their blood, so we have to put a call through to the DPO and leaders of vigilante group in Igumale.”
The eyewitness said members of the vigilante group, who conveyed the policemen to Saint Daniel’s Hospital, Otukpo, about one and half hours to Igumale, added that at the time they got to the hospital, two were said to have been brought in dead.
Confirming the report on Monday, the state police public relations officer, ASP Moses Yamu, said some gunmen attacked a police station at Igumale, in Ado Local Government Area of the state, adding that the gunmen shot at the policemen on duty, two of them died, while two others were in critical condition in an undisclosed hospital.
He said no arrest had been made, but said intelligence officers had been drafted to the place and assured that the police command was on the top of the situation, just as he called on the people of the area to be calm and to join hands with the police to ensure the arrest of the perpetrators.
Reacting, former Senate President, Senator David Mark, however, expressed worry over what he called unabating violence taking place in his state,
Mark, in a statement made available in Abuja, on Monday, said the incessant killings in the state were becoming a source of worry to right-thinking citizens.
He tasked security operatives to rise up to the challenge.
The statement read: “A couple of days ago, gunmen invaded a police station in Ado Local Government Area of Benue State during which four policemen on duty were reportedly murdered while some ammunitions were carted away.
“In a similar bizarre circumstance, two students of Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, believed to be brothers, were murdered in cold blood by gunmen suspected to be cultists,” Mark said in the statement, adding that Nigerians must cooperate with security agencies to nip the crisis in the bud.
He lamented that insecurity was taking a toll on concerted efforts to attract development, saying all hands must be on deck to end the menace.
Senator Mark also cautioned youths in the state to refrain from any act of criminality or violence because “you will be putting your lives and future in jeopardy.”
He further said: “As future leaders, our youths should engage in something productive and meaningful. You cannot position yourselves as future leaders and deliberately destroy the proposed future. Enough is enough. A word is enough for the wise.”