Two rifles and a pistol were also reportedly carted away by the bandits during the attack on the policemen, who were said to be on a stop – and – search duty in Asaba.
The deceased was reportedly said to be manning Kowen Plaza in Asaba, where he was shot dead by the bandits who had released pellets on the policemen on duty.
The hoodlums, after the attack, made away with two service rifles and a pistol belonging to the policemen.
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Colleagues of the deceased at the time of the attack were said to have sustained deep machete cuts from the hoodlums who allegedly disarmed the police officers.
A witness of the incident in the area said there were sporadic shootings throughout the attack.
Delta State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Mustafa, who expressed sadness at the incident, said: “It happened between 7-8p.m on Friday.”
He added that “A Policeman died during the attacks. They carted away two rifles and a pistol. The Police is investigating the matter and I assure you that we will get to the root.”
TribuneOnline reported that policemen in the command had, in the past two months or so, been under lethal attacks by men of the underworld with scores losing their lives and a number of arms seized and carted away.
Meanwhile, the commissioner of Police, has confirmed the release of four catholic priests by their abductors late Friday evening.
Mustafa, hinted the arrest of some suspects from both Edo and Delta states in the kidnap of the victims.
He did not disclose the identities of the suspects; neither did he speak on the ransom paid nor the exact location where they were rescued.
The Catholic priests were seized by gunmen on Tuesday, while on their way to Ekpoma, Edo State.
The priests, after their release, were allegedly taken to Benin, the Edo State capital Friday night by a joint police and military officers for medical check-up.
The priests were: Rev. Frs. Victor Adigboluja of the Ijebu Ode diocese; Anthony Otegbola, Abeokuta Diocese; Joseph Ediae, Benin Archdiocese; and Emmanuel Obadjere, Warri Diocese.
Sunday Tribune gathered that before their rescue, their abductors had placed a ransom of N20 million on them.
The Warri Diocese of the Catholic Church from where they had an annual class meeting that was held in Warri between Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th, November 2018, to mark their 10th Year Priestly Anniversary, reportedly parted with N10 million to secure their release.
A catholic faithful, as gathered, claimed that N10 million ransom was paid to the abductors before they eventually dropped off the priests in an unknown location where security agents later came to convey them to Benin.
The hoodlums had earlier reportedly demanded N20 million, but later went for N15 million and finally N10 million.
They reportedly warned the church’s contacts against the involvement of security agencies in the deal or the victims would be killed.
It will be recalled that the priests were on their way to the Major Seminary Of All Saints, Uhiele- Ekpoma, their alma mater, to celebrate with the Seminary community as part of the alumni event for this year, when they were ambushed and abducted.
They were seized around Abraka near Benin in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State after the bandits overtook their vehicle in an entourage and seized four of them while the rest managed to escape the scene with their cars damaged.
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