Bandits attack former minister’s house, kill police

Rampaging bandits have attacked the residence of a former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, M. Damishi Sango, at Ganawuri Kingdom in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing a policeman on the spot.

Another police officer and a civilian were injured during the attack.

The two policemen served as security details at the residence. The injured policeman and civilian were immediately rushed to the Plateau Specialist Hospital, where they were receiving treatment.

The body of the deceased policeman had been deposited at the mortuary of the hospital awaiting autopsy.

According to the spokesman of the Plateau State Police Command, ASP Gabriel Ubah Ogaba, the command is aware of the attack in Riyom and the victims have been rushed to the hospital where they are receiving treatment.

“I am not aware of policemen being dispossessed of their rifles by the bandits. The Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka, just left the scene of the incident,” Ogaba said.

He said that a combined team of detectives and intelligence officers had already commenced investigation and manhunt of the criminals, stressing that the former minister and his family were not hurt.

But member representing Riyom Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Timothy Dantong, confirmed the killing of the policeman, saying what happened on Wednesday night was one of the numerous attacks and killings in recent times in Riyom council.

Sango told The Guardian on phone that “I can confirm the attack on my residence. We lost one police officer who was a security man, while two others were injured and they have been rushed to the hospital.

“We don’t know the attackers. That is all I can say for now.”

A community leader and the immediate past minority leader of Riyom Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Daniel Dem, described the attack as very unfortunate.