A police officer, Inspector Bamisaye Gbenga, and two residents of Odo-Eri community in Yagba West, Kogi State, were on Thursday killed when a mob of protesters clashed with police in the town.
The attack was in retaliation to the death of two residents who were felled by the slain police officer’s “accidentally discharged bullets” while trying to disperse the mob.
The protesters had stormed the divisional police headquarters in the town when news filtered in that Police had arrested two suspects alleged to have attacked banks in the town and adjourning Egbe community on Tuesday.
A statement issued by the state police command spokesman, DSP William Aya, on Thursday, said the irate mob went to the station, demanding that the two suspects arrested be given to them to lynch.
All efforts by the Police to placate the mob prove abortive, and they became violent, in the process lynched one INSPR. Bamisaye Gbenga, to death and injured PC Sunday Alechenu.
“In the efforts to dispersed the mob, two persons, a male and a female were maimed but both died in the hospital while receiving treatment. Meanwhile, part of the station was set ablaze by the mob,” he said.
It would be recalled that on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, some suspected armed robbers attacked the UBA in Odo-Ere and Access Bank Egbe, both in Yagba West local government of Kogi State.
Consequently, the Police launched manhunt of the suspects in synergy with other security agencies, the hunters and vigilantes to the hills where they escaped to.
While the operation is going on through the aerial surveillance by the Police helicopter alone with the Special Forces at the Oke-Ere hills, where the hoodlums were trapped, two of the suspects were arrested and taken to Odo-Ere Police Division for interrogation.
The Commissioner of Police, Dauda Dabban, while condemning the lawless act perpetrated by the youth of Odo-Ere, called on them to restrain from taking the law into their hands.
He assured the public that at the conclusion of investigation, the suspects will be arraigned in court to face justice.
The Commissioner of Police extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during the unfortunate incident.