Gunmen storm police station in Ekiti, kill inspector

• Again, Soldiers, Police Clash In Ebonyi

Gunmen stormed the Ido Ekiti, Ekiti State divisional police station Friday evening, killing an inspector, and carting away weapons and ammunition.

The attackers, suspected to be robbers, reportedly arrived the town at about 7.18 p.m. in three 14-seater buses. They drove furiously to the station, shooting wildly, and then proceeded to the armoury, which they blew open with an explosive device.

A source said few policemen had been at the station, suggesting this made the attack swift and successful. He added that upon gaining access into the premises, the assailants opened fire on the inspector who died on the spot.

“They drove recklessly and took over the entire police station. Some scaled the fence and positioned themselves strategically. They shot into the air sporadically and virtually destroyed every room.

“Our suspicion was that they came to loot the armoury because that was where they attacked, first, after demobilising our men. In fact, they
emptied the entire place.”

Asked whether the gunmen had come to free a high-profile detainee or robbery suspect, the police source said: “That is not true because nobody was in the cell at the time of the incident.”

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state, Alberto Adeyemi, confirmed the death of the inspector. He said two policemen were also wounded in the attack. He, however, added that the bandits made away with only two guns.

A clash also occurred, yesterday, between policemen and military officers from Nkwegu cantonment, Abakaliki.

The incident comes weeks after a traffic warden was hospitalised, following altercation with a soldier.

The fighting at No 1 Water Works Road sent frightened residents scampering in every direction.

Trouble started after a team of policemen allegedly requested the identity cards of some military personnel.

The soldiers, in a convoy of cars decorated with wedding accessories, were said to have been embarrassed by the policemen’s request, especially since they were in uniform.

Following refusal by the policemen to budge, one of the soldiers allegedly shot into the air, an action, which made the policemen to call for a back up.

Outnumbered, the soldiers were seized and taken to the state police headquarters. Some of their colleagues, however, staged a reprisal.

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP George Okafor, said the matter was being resolved.