Police, hunters foil gunmen attack on Okene Area Command Headquarters

Kill one person

Operatives of the Nigeria police attached to the Area Command Headquarters in Okene in synergy with some hunters on Sunday night foiled an attack by gunmen numbering over 30,who were chanting ‘Alahuakbar’.

The Guardian gathered that the gunmen who came in motorbikes attempted to invade the area command with explosives and other weapons. They shoot sporadically but were promptly repelled. One of the attackers was killed while others fled with various degrees of injuries.

In a statement obtained by The Guardian in Lokoja, yesterday, the Kogi State Government commended the gallantry of the police and the hunters, saying that the government will do everything possible to secure the lives and property of the people.

The statement, signed by Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said: “The Kogi State Government wishes to report that the Okene Area Command of the Nigerian Police Force was attacked by gunmen. However, they were shown the strength and efficacy of the Kogi security architecture as the local hunters, men of the State’s Vigilance Service collaborated with other security operatives to spontaneously foil the attack.

“The superior firepower of the combined security network of the state ensured one of them was gunned down immediately while others ran away with various degrees of gun wounds. Two of their motorcycles were recovered as well as various arms and ammunition. Also, experts immediately detonated explosives meant to shatter the command.”

He said the onslaught against the gunmen was coordinated by the Executive Chairmen of local council in Kogi Central and the Senior Special Assistant on Security to the Governor in charge of Kogi Central.

“This is the second time in less than two months that Kogi proved impregnable to criminals as tens of them lost their lives in the attack on Yagba West LGA of the state last December. The Executive Governor of the State, Alh. Yahaya Bello is renowned for stating that, “the criminals will come in their numbers but go back in their zeros”. The gunmen have been thoroughly given the Kogi treat. No innocent lives were lost, instead, the criminals were the ones that received gun wounds and lost one of them on the spot,” he said.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), in Kogi William Ovye Aya, said the Commissioner of Police, Edward Ebuka has deployed re-enforcement team to the area.

He added that the team consist of Counter Terrorism Units, Police Mobile Force, Intelligence team as well as Quick Response Unit along with the Military and other security Forces with a view to track down the perpetrators and prosecute them.