Angry mob lynch two cops for crushing three to death

The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the lynching of two mobile policemen by an angry mob  for allegedly crushing to death three persons to death.

The victims were among four mobile policemen attached to the immediate past lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, in the Edo State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Agbaje.

The police operatives who were attached to Police Mobile Force 19, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, allegedly crushed a woman, a student and motorcycle rider in front of Ikpeshi Grammar School in the locality.

It was gathered that the Toyota Hilux Van conveying the four policemen was on escort duty with the former lawmaker when they were involved in an accident with the motorcycle conveying a woman and child.

The motorcycle rider and passengers reportedly died at the spot.

According to a police source who asked not to be named, the community youths invaded the Edo State Security Volunteer Network office in the locality where the policemen ran to for custody.

He added that the youths overran the facility and beat two of the policemen to death, while the vigilante group was able to rescue the other two officers.

“One Toyota Hilux van conveying four policemen, namely Inspector Brownson Brown, Inspector Abubaka Fakkuk, Sergeant Taiye Ojiefo, and Sergeant Elisha John attached to Police Mobile Force 19 Port Harcourt on escort duty with Hon. Emmanuel Agbaje, a former Edo State House Assembly member, was involved in an accident with a motorcycle conveying a woman and child by Ikpeshi community.

“In the process, the rider and passengers died on the spot and in reaction, the angry mob attacked the policemen, beat Inspector Abubaka Fakku and Sergeant Elisha John to death while two others are receiving treatment at Ifejola Hospital, Igarra.

The source added that the officers’ four rifles were recovered while the corpses of the dead policemen and accident victims were evacuated to the mortuary for autopsy.

The source disclosed that the police are making efforts to arrest the suspected murderers of the officers.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, who confirmed the incident, on Sunday, said more details would be made available to the public in due time.

Nwanbuzor however said the police victims were not officers of the Edo State Command but Police Mobile Force 19, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Akoko-Edo local government Council, Hon. Tajudeen Alade, condemned the action of the youths, even as he commended the efforts of the vigilante to save the life of the other policemen.

While promising that those involved would be brought to book, Alade promised support for the twin sister of one of the occupants of the motorcycle.