It was a sad day in Kogi on Saturday as yet to be identified gunmen killed five vigilante operatives and three policemen in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of the State
It was gathered that the security operatives were killed while on the trail of some suspects, following a report at the Divisional police headquarters by villagers that some people were using their farms for criminal activities.
Confirming the killings, the security adviser to Kogi governor, Commander Jerry Omadara (rtd) said that the three police officers and five members of local vigilantes were killed in an ambush on Saturday.
According to him, Divisional police officer, acting on intelligence report that hoodlums had invaded their farm and engaging in illegal activities, mobilised officers in collaboration with local vigilantes and headed for the area.
“They were however ambushed and in the process. Eight of them were killed – three Police Officers and five members of the local vigilantes”.
Omadara, however, said that no matter what,the state government will not rest until the culprits were brought to book
He said that the state government under Alhaji Yahaya Bello has assured the people of the state of adequate government protection and Saturday’s incident would not be allowed to repeat itself.
Gunmen attacks have become rampant in Kogi state in recent times. On Tuesday men of the Nigeria Police bomb squad were hurriedly drafted to detonate an object suspected to be a bomb found in premises of Secretary to the State Government, SSG’s office on Lugard road. The explosion created by the detonation of the object created panic in the area.
A leaked security memo on Monday listed Kogi State among six prime targets of terrorists, in the country
