Robbers kill 4 policemen

The Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Police Force on Sunday lost four of its officers to a gang of robbers in Ijesa Ijebu-Illisan road in Ago-Iwoye, Ijebu North Local Government Area of the state.

One of the policemen, who was said to be in a private car at the time of the incident, managed to escape the hoodlums, who strangely have not been operating around the area before or after the deadly incident.

Though, the identity of the victims have not been made known as at press time but the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the sad incident which occurred at Ako Village, a distance of about five kilometres from the permanent site of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye.

Unofficial reports disclosed that the hoodlums also carted away the rifles of the dead policemen, consisting of an inspector, two corporals and one constable.

The driver of the vehicle, a sergeant, was said to have escaped with serious wounds.

It was gathered that the five policemen were returning to the Divisional Police Headquarters in the town, after they had concluded the day’s assignment at a road block around Ago Iwoye when the gunmen, who had trailed them in another vehicle, opened fire on the private car which conveyed the policemen.

An informant who craved anonymity said, “I was heading to Ago Iwoye from Abeokuta when my mother called me that I should go back; that I should not bother to come as some policemen had been killed by some robbers.”

She said the police were angry and looking for the robbers because she was afraid I could be caught in the cross fire.”

A police source, who spoke to our correspondent on Sunday in confidence, described the killing of the policemen as “a sad occurrence.”

The PPRO yesterday, after confirming the incidents urged members of the public to pray for the policemen as well as assist them with useful information that would expose hoodlums.

“These people are not spirits; they are human beings. It is one of the hazards of the profession. The robbers know the policemen because the police will always be in uniform but hardly will you recognize the hoodlums.

“That is why we need both the physical and spiritual support of members of the public,” Adejobi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police said.

The PPRO added that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Daura, held a strategic, close-door meeting with officers of the command, on how to increase the level of security in the state, expressing confidence that the hoodlums would be arrested.

“Even the blood of the dead policemen will cry for justice; they have family members and dependants too. We will get them,” he disclosed.