The assailants were alleged to have looted the police armoury, and carted away weapons, including a speedboat .
We learnt that the deceased cop , Sergeant Segun Akinola, and his colleagues were on duty around 8 . 45 pm on Thursday when the gunmen struck .
A source in the community told our correspondent that the policemen, who were ill- equipped, were caught unawares .
He said , “Around 8 . 45 pm , the militants entered the community through the waterways . They got down from their boats and started shooting indiscriminately .
“ When they got to the Marine Police Station , they shot the Sergeant dead . They wounded two others before entering into their armoury and carting away weapons, including a speedboat .
“ They left after the operation which lasted about one and a half hours in the place. They didn ’ t have any disturbance or confrontation throughout the period . They later escaped through the waterways . ”
A community leader , who did not want to be identified , said the attack was a reprisal for the arrest and killing of a militant .
Our correspondent had reported about two weeks ago that the gunmen raided the home of a businessman in the community and carted away huge sums of money and other property .
After the operation , their vehicle was said to have broken down after which they were stranded .
Our correspondent reported that the militants, while looking for an escape route , shot dead three members of the community.
Residents were said to have tracked the owner of the broken down vehicle , who drove the assailants that night .
The suspect , an Ijaw youth , was reportedly mobbed before he was handed over to the police .
Our source said , “ The information was that the suspect later died and that angered the militants, which was the reason for this attack .
“ The problem is that those policemen are ill - equipped and the place is unfit to be a police post or station , let alone the headquarters of the Marine Police in Ogun State . The militants caught them unawares . They did this to instill fear into the people. ”
The Chairman of the area, Femi Onanuga, confirmed the incident , adding that the state Commissioner of Police had visited the area.
He noted that although no arrest had been made , the police promised to go after the assailants.
“ The marine headquarters is not well equipped. It was unfortunate , ” he added .
The spokesperson for the police in Ogun State , Abimbola Oyeyemi , confirmed the incident .
He said , “ They attacked the marine station at Iwopin . The commissioner of police visited the place on Friday to assess the situation and see things for himself . He was there with the deputy commissioner of operations to reinforce security . Special units have been deployed in the area to provide security for lives and property.”
www.iykerom.blogspot.com
Comments