…Corporal shot dead in battle with fake soldiers in Delta
A Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Paiko, Niger State, Mukhtar Sabiu and four of his policemen have been killed in battle with gunmen suspected to be terrorists, VOM has learnt.
Sabiu and his men, it was gathered, paid the supreme price around 11am on Saturday while defending the Kwakuti/Dajigbe villages areas of Lambata and other communities in Gurara from terrorists.
It was learnt that Sabiu had led a combined police tram from his division and Gawu-Babangida division to the locations where the insurgents were seen, while military operatives and local vigilante also joined forces to stop the terrorists’ incursions.
The operation was said to have taken place few hours after Sabiu and his men defended Chibani Village Market from invasion by the criminals who struck through Sarkin-Pawa, Munya Local Government Area and got many of the suspects arrested.
Spokesman for the Niger Police Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed their deaths, said scores of the insurgents were neutralised while others fled with gunshot injuries in the gun battle that ensued.
“Regrettably, DPO Paiko SP Mukhtar Sabiu and four other police personnel from both divisions lost their lives during the gun duel,” he said.
He added that the Commission of Police, Ogundele Ayodeji, led a team to the location to recover the bodies of the officers.
Meanwhile, in Delta State, a Police Constable, Maxwell Biu, alleged to be on illegal duty was at the wee hours of Sunday killed by gunmen clad allegedly clad in military uniform.
It was gathered that the killers attacked Biu and another Constable identified as Bright Chukwuma both attached to Ashaka Division around 1:45am, killing Biu on the spot.
Sources told our Correspondent that the duo abandoned their duty posts with rifles allegedly illegally issued by the division’s armourer, Inspector Ekpe.
It was learnt that they came under attack from the gunmen who fled with Biu’s rifle but abandoned their Beretta pistol with 63 Brigade inscribed on it.
“They left their duty posts without authorization and were illegally issued rifles by the armourer. While they were on their way, they came under attack from gunmen who engaged them in battle.
“Biu was killed on the spot while Bright forr to the station. That was how the DPO knew what transpired and the Constable was immediately detained.
“The DPO led operatives to the scene were the abandoned pistol with 13 rounds of live ammunition were discovered inside a Lexus 300.
“When the car was searched, three radio phones with their chargers, charms, an identity care of the Imo State Government and vehicle documents bearing the same name as in the identity card were found,” said the source.