Some unknown gunmen have invaded a divisional police headquarters in Edo State, killing the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) and two others including a pregnant policewoman.
According to information, the slain policewoman was said to have been recently transferred to Afuze from Benin, and was an officer on duty at the Police Station when the hoodlums attacked.
The attack happened on Wednesday at the Afuze Divisional Police Headquarters in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State.
It will be recalled that killings were similar to the fate suffered on July 14, 2018, during a fatal shooting of four policemen at a check point along Uzebba Road, Sabongida Ora, headquarters of neighbouring Owan West local government area.
During the brazen assault, the corpses of the policemen were burnt inside their patrol van.
The armed men who also attacked the local office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), destroyed electoral materials and completely razed down a Hilux police van in the compound.
The names of the deceased policemen were given as Mr. Tosimani Ojo, the DPO; Sergeant Justina Aghomon, a heavily pregnant woman, Inspector Sado Isaac and Corporal Glory David.
An eyewithness, Mr Godwin Ikpekhia said the inccident occured at about 8:00 pm on Tuesday night, when many of the officers of the division had gone outside for duty, it was said was the time the armed men attacked the station.
“We only had gun shot and nobody knew what happen until this morning (Wednesday). The divisional police officer with three other officers who were on duty were killed on the spot inside the building.
“The hoodlums didn’t stop at that, they also went to the INEC office and were shooting sporadically in to scare away men who were on duty.
“Election materials and police van in INEC office were burnt down by the hoodlums.”
The Edo Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muhammed Danmallam who visited the scene of the incident in company of Governor Godwin Obaseki, and other top police officers assured that investigation will commence immediately.
Danmallam vowed that those responsible for the attack will be brought to book.
“Urget steps will be taken to curb the increasing cases of criminality in Owan axis of the state,” Danmallam said.
It will be recalled that on January 23 his year, the victorious All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly candidate for Owan West, Mr. Ohio Ezomo was kidnapped in his house at Eme Ora.
During the kidnap of the politician, his police orderly was shot dead by the invaders and was only set free by his abductors a few days to the March 9 election.
and then