Unknown gunmen on Monday ambushed and killed a Divisional Police Officer, DPO, simply identified as CSP Jega, and some of his men who were responding to a distress call to rescue some kidnapped victims in Delta State.
The police team was ambushed by the kidnappers near the Agbarho rail station at about 1:30 a.m.
It was gathered that the DPO had mobilised his men for the rescue mission but were gunned down by the hoodlums, who had laid an ambush for them.
“Immediately, the new DPO contacted his Orerokpo counterpart and mobilised and went to the area but it was unknown to them that the kidnappers had led an ambush and as soon as the kidnappers sighted the police team immediately opened fire at them, “ a source said.
“The new Agbarho DPO was killed instantly, and his Orerokpo counterpart, another DPO, was seriously wounded and is currently on the danger list in an undisclosed hospital,” the source revealed.
Some of the policemen in the rescue team were also reportedly killed but the actual casualty figure, including among the kidnappers, is yet unknown.
Comrade Israel Joe, a Delta State-based human rights activist, reported the incident on his Facebook page, lamenting the loss of the officers.
“The New DPO Agbarho who resumed two days ago, The DPO Orerokpe CSP Paul and their men, who went for a kidnap rescue operation at about 1:am in the early hours of today were ambushed close to the Agbarho rail Station,” Joe wrote.
“There was an exchange of fire, the new DPO, and some policemen were killed while the Orerokpe DPO was rushed to an undisclosed hospital where he is battling with his life.
“I feel very pained about this news. This was the same DPO I spoke with yesterday about the conduct of his men who demanded money from a citizen, and he rescued the situation immediately, cautioning his men not to try that again under his watch.
“This is very tearful, I can, to some extent, attest to the characters of these men.
“I wish to convey my condolence to the Nigeria Police Force, the CP Delta State Command, entire family and friends of the police who lost their lives in a quest to save society in the front line of duty.
“None of these demons should be spared by the force.”