From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
No fewer than three Police Officers and five local vigilantes were said to have been killed on Saturday in an ambush by suspected bandits in Ajaokuta, Kogi state .
It was gathered that the killings allegedly occurred on Saturday when suspected movement of unknown people were reported at the Ajaokuta police station.
Eye witness account told our Correspondent that the locals had repoted at the Divisional police headquarters that some people were using their farms for criminal activities. The DPO immediately mobilised his men and some local vigilantes with a view to repel the impending attack.
Our source who pleaded anonymity said that unknown to them, the hoodlums had laid ambush for them and opened fire on sighting the security personnel.
He said that their corpses have been deposited at the Federal Medical Center, Lokoja.
Confirming the killings, the Kogi state security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omadara (rtd) said that the 3 police officers and five members of local vigilantes were killed in an ambush on Saturday.
According to him, the Divisional police officer acting on intelligence report that hoodlums had invaded their farm and engaging in illegal activities. “He therefore mobilised officers in collaboration with local vigilantes and headed for the area.”
“They were however ambushed and in the process Eight of them were killed including three Police Officers and five members of the local vigilantes”.
He said that the state government under Alhaji Yahaya Bello has assured the people of the state of adequate government protection as Saturdays incident would not be allowed to repeat itself.
