Gunmen Kill DPO, 4 Others

Posted by admin Boko Haram, Headlines, Nigerian Police Thursday, March 8th, 2012

By Segun Awofadeji

A Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Abbubakar Sadiq, three other policemen and a civilian were Thursday feared dead, while another Police Inspector was short on the leg by unknown gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram, during a night attack on a police station and two new generation banks in Ashaka-Bajoga, Funakaye Local Government Area of Gombe State.

The Police Area Commander in charge of the zone, Mr. Olumide Kayode, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), disclosed this while conducting the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Air wing, Mr. Ilesanmi Aguda, round the damaged banks as well as the Ashaka Police out- post. The attack happened around 7.15p.m. on Wednesday.

The Assistant Police Commissioner said the suspected gunmen trailed Sadiq in his official vehicle and shot him dead along with his driver.

Similarly, one of the policemen was shot dead at a road block leading to Ashaka Cement Company, while another policeman was killed while on guard at one of the banks.
Kayode further explained that the civilian killed in the attack was a staff of one of the banks, who was shot while standing in the premises.

He, however, expressed concern over how Sadiq was killed by the gunmen, while trying to escape.
The police Assistant Commissioner pointed out that when the suspected gunmen bombed the Ashaka Police out-post completely destroying it they also made away with three motorcycles belonging to the Policemen on duty which they used in moving around to launch more attacks.
An eye witness told our Correspondent that the suspected gunmen numbering over 10 came in a Hilux Toyota pick-up van, while some came in a Golf car.

He said they started shooting sporadically into the air thereby causing pandemonium as people scampered for safety.

Commenting on the attack, Aguda called for cooperation and understanding from the public by giving useful information to the Police on suspicious characters and hide out of criminals.
Aguda assured Nigerians of the commitment of the Inspector General of Police to carry out sweeping reforms in the force to enable it carry out its functions effectively.

However when THISDAY visited the scene of the incident, it was still not known whether the suspected gunmen were able to cart away with money from the two banks as there were still explosives scattered in the premises waiting to be detonated by the Police Anti-Bomb Squad unit from Yola.

It was gathered that while Ashaka Cement Company had taken responsibility of the medical bills of the Police Inspector shot on the leg, who is on admission at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Gombe, other banks and shop owners refused to open for business around the Ashaka Cement gate, as there was palpable tension and apprehension.

-ThisDaywp_posts