12th July, 2010
The Nigerian police yesterday lost four of their officers to armed robbers at Ago Iwoye in Ijebu North area of Ogun State, Nigeria.
The four police officers who were until their death attached to the Ago Iwoye police station, were said to be heading towards the police station when they were killed.
P.M.NEWS investigation revealed that the men were confronted by a gang of armed robbers coming from Ijebu Ijesha/Ako Makole road who opened fired on the cops.
A Police source told our correspondent that the slain officers were unaware that the vehicle trailing them were occupied by armed robbers.
According to the source, “the officers were five in number. They had just left their duty post and were on their way back to the station. They were riding in a car that belonged to one of them. Unknown to them, the armed robbers were inside a vehicle behind theirs.
“The robbers opened fire on them and four of them died instantly while the only survivor is currently undergoing treatment at the General Hospital, Ago Iwoye. Their death is sad news to us but that will not deter us from flushing robbers out of the state.â€
Another police source informed P.M.NEWS that armed robbers have been on the trail of policemen since the foiling of a robbery attack on a new generation bank in Ijebu Igbo, a few weeks ago. The car of the Ijebu Division Police Area Commander, Mr. Christopher Obagunle, was riddled with bullets during that attack.
“Since the foiled robbery attack, the robbers have intensified their activities in Ijebu North area. Several futile attempts have been made on many officers in the area before yesterday’s killing. With the support we now enjoy from the Area Commander, we shall flush them out.â€
When our correspondent met the Area Commander, he confirmed the incident, saying he was on his way to Abeokuta to brief the state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Daura.
As at the time of filing this report, Obagunle is believed to be holding a meeting with the state police boss and the PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi at the state headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.
—Biodun Onafuye/   Ijebu Ode