Unknown gunmen kill, set four policemen ablaze

SABONGIDA-ORA, the headquarters of Owan West local government area of Edo State was thrown into a panic during the weekend following the gruesome murder of four policemen on patrol by some unknown gunmen in the town.

The ill-fated policemen who were attached to the Sabongida- Ora Division of the  Nigeria Police were reportedly gunned down at the road intersection between Oke-Ora and Avbiosi in Owan West Local  Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the deceased was ambushed by the assailants who shot them dead in a hail of bullets after their patrol van, a Toyota Hilux screeched to a halt and was about to get down.

After the killing, the vehicle was said to have been set on fire with the bodies of victims inside even as their weapons were allegedly taken away by the gun-toting killers.

Speaking on his mobile phone from the council headquarters at Sabongida Ora, the Chairman of the local government area, Mr  Frank Ilaboya explained that from available information, the policemen were about to alight from their vehicle when the assailants opened fire on them.

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“They were said to have set their vehicle ablaze and took away their guns. I cannot confirm whether they were armed robbers or not.

“As I speak with you, the communities in the area are in total confusion. However, I have convened an emergency security meeting for this afternoon (Sunday) to look at the issue because there is  no eyewitness that can give an account of what really happened”

However, the Edo State Police spokesman, Mr.Chidi Nwanbuzor said that he was yet to get the details and will speak once he is briefed, adding: “I just received the information from the media.  We are yet to be briefed.”