The Kogi State Police Command have confirmed the death of an inspector and two locals in an attack in Odo Ere Division on Tuesday.
According to the state command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), William Aya, the attack was an aftermath of a robbery incident on two banks in Yagba West Local Government of the state.
Aya in a statement explained that the police, local hunters and vigilantes had engaged in a pursuit of the armed robbers to the hills after they had robbed the banks.
Two suspects were arrested and taken to the Odo Ere Police Division where angry mobs demanded they be released to them to lynch.
The mob became violent as the police failed in their efforts to calm them down leading to the death of one inspector Bamisaye Gbenga.
He added that another police officer, PC Sunday Alechenu was injured, and two others; a male and a female were also injured but they died while receiving treatment in a hospital.
The statement read;
It would be recalled that, on Tuesday 14/12/2021, some suspected armed robbers attacked the UBA in Odo-Ere and Access Bank Egbe all in Yagba West Local Government of Kogi State.
Consequently, the Police launched a manhunt of the suspects in synergy with other security agencies, the Hunters and Vigilantes to the hills where they escaped to.
While the operations are going on through aerial surveillance by the Police Helicopter alone with the Special Forces at the Oke-Ere hills, where the Hoodlums were trapped, two of the suspects were arrested and taken to Odo-Ere Division.
The irate mob went to the station, demanding that the two suspects arrested be given to them to Lynch. All efforts by the Police to placate the mob prove abortive, and they became violent, in the process lynched one INSPR. Bamisaye Gbenga, to death and injured PC Sunday Alechenu.
In the efforts to disperse the mob, two persons, a male and a female were maimed but both died in the hospital while receiving treatment. Meanwhile, Part of the station was set ablaze by the mob.
The Commissioner of Police while condemning the act of lawless perpetrated by the Youth of Ode-Ere, calls on them to restrain from taking the law into their hands. While assuring the public that at the conclusion of the investigation, the suspects will be arraigned in court to face justice.
The Commissioner of Police extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during the unfortunate incident.
DSP WILLIAM OVYE AYA,
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE,
KOGI STATE POLICE COMMAND
