The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello is angry with bad people that are trying to make nonsense of his avowed claim of the state being the safest in the country.
The governor, who swiftly reacted to a bomb attack on the Area Command office of the Nigeria Police at Eika-Ohizenyi in Okehi Local Government Area of the State, by unknown assailants, resulting in the death of a police inspector, directed the state security adviser to mobilise adequate security personnel and equipment to the affected area to ensure watertight security and restore confidence in the citizens.
He said that the state government will go ahead to implement an effective action plan to avert reoccurrence, working closely with the security chiefs in the state as well as the people in the affected area.
A statement by the commissioner of information, Kingsley Fanwo quoted the governor as appealing to residents of Okehi to cooperate with security agencies as necessary measures will be put in place to curb violent crimes in the area and also flush out the criminal elements “bent on denting the security credentials of our dear state which is comparatively the safest in the country today.
Earlier, Commissioner of Police in the State, Edward Egbuka, had visited the scene of the incident ordered the deployment of additional operational assets consisting of operatives of the Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit, Quick Response Unit and State Intelligence Bureau in synergy with other security agencies to restore normalcy in the area.
A statement by the Spokesperson of the Kogi Police Command, William Aya, said that part of the area command office was razed by dynamite used by the attackers.
“Sadly, a police inspector died in the exchange of fire with the hoodlums, before the area commander and a detachment of military in the area reinforced the scene of the incident and the attackers fled.”
Aya assured that the command is committed to working in synergy with other security agencies, as well as patriotic stakeholders to make the state a safe and secure place for all and sundry.
He said the Commissioner of Police has further tasked his Deputy in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to commence investigations into the unfortunate incident.
This was even as about five people, including two policemen, a university lecturers have been killed in a bandit attacks in Benue State. The attacks took place in Guma and Ukum Local Government Areas of the state.
It was gathered that the two policemen were killed in Yelewata of Guma LGA, a border town between Benue and Nasarawa States when the armed men stormed the area.
Similarly, one Fred Akaayar, a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communications at the Federal University, Wukari in Taraba State and two others were gunned down at Jootar in Ukum LGA, a border community between Benue and Taraba States on Thursday night.
The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, has confirmed the Guma incident, saying: “I received information about two policemen killed in an operation but I am yet to receive details please,” the PPRO stated in a reply to a text message sent by our correspondent.”
