19th March, 2023
By Richard Elesho
Kogi State Police Command has said 96 people were involved in the attack on security operatives and staff of Independent National Electoral Commission INEC who were returning from on election duty in Kogi State early Sunday morning.
Though no life was lost in the attack, police confirmed that some of the INEC staff were injured while two persons are missing.
The public relations Officer of Kogi Police Command, William Ayah, said this in a statement on Sunday while confirming the attack of INEC staff.
He said the attack took place at Obajana in the early hours of Sunday.
According to him, the victims were returning from election duty in Kupa district of Lokoja, when they were waylaid by the heavily armed gunmen. The injured were rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja for treatment.
The police urged people to give information on people with gun wounds and other suspects to law enforcement agencies in the area.
Ayah statement reads: “On Sunday 19th of March, 2023, INEC Officials and Ad-hoc Staff came under heavy attack by armed hoodlums at Obajana while on their way from Kupa North and South Wards to the Constituency Collation Centre in Lokoja.
“The Police escort attached to the team responded robustly and engaged with hoodlums in a fierce gun duel.
“On receipt of the distress call, reinforcement teams were promptly mobilized and sent to the scene which equally engaged the attackers and owing to the superior fire power of the Police, the attackers were forced to flee with varying degrees of injuries.
“The Commissioner of Police in charge of Election in Kogi State, CP Yekini Ayoku, mni, led rescue team to the scene for on-the-spot assessment. He later led the evacuation of the ninety six (96) rescued victims comprising INEC Officials, Adhoc Staff, Bus drivers and others to the INEC Headquarters in Lokoja. While the three (3) injured victims were evacuated to the Federal Medical center Lokoja for treatment.
“The Commissioner of Police has accordingly ordered the deployment of operational and tactical assets of the Force to embark on thorough combing of the general area with a view to apprehending the attackers and to rescue the two (2) victims yet to be accounted for.
“The CP further tasked the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department to commence thorough investigation with a view to apprehending the miscreants and bring them to deserved justice.
“The Commissioner of Police while commending the gallantry displayed by the men of the Force, urged members of the public particularly the adjoining communities to be on the lookout and report any body seen with bullets wounds to the nearest security Formation or agencies.
“He assured the public that the Police will not rest on its oars in the fight against criminality in state.”