Hoodlums, suspected to be bandits attacked the Maru Police Station in Zamfara State on Saturday, killing the Divisional Police Officer of the station, Kazeem Kareem; an Inspector, Rabiu Umar; and a vigilante, Shehu Chika.
An indigene of the town, Shehu Amadu, told newsmen that the bandits who invaded the town in large numbers with the intention of abducting residents, shot the victims dead for attempting to prevent them from carrying out the operation.
He said, “The bandits who were in large numbers stormed our town in the night on Saturday in order to abduct the people. Many of us took to our heels and ran into the bush to escape abduction.
“On receiving information of the attack, the Divisional Police Officer, Kazeem Kareem, mobilised his men and some vigilantes in order to chase away the bandits.
“Unfortunately, the DPO, one police sergeant, Rabiu Bagobiri and one vigilante member, Shehu Chika, were killed.”
Explaining further, Amadu said after perpetrating the crime, the bandits abducted some residents and also took away some food items.
Confirming the attack, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Shehu, in a statement, confirmed the death of the two cops during the attack by bandits, adding that the command was on the trail of the suspects behind the attack.
The statement read, “On March 5, 2023, around 2am, bandits in large numbers, armed with weapons, attacked the Maru Division with the intent to destabilise the security architecture of the town in order to easily attack and abduct members of the community.
“However, the DPO and team gallantly put up a strong resistance to repel the attackers. Unfortunately, he (DPO) and one Inspector Rabiu Umar lost their lives while protecting the public.
The state Commissioner of Police has deployed reinforcement to pursue the fleeing hoodlums and arrest them for investigation and prosecution.”
In a similar development, some yet-to-be-identified assailants attacked the Atani Police Station in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
During the exchange of gunfire, some policemen sustained injuries.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident, said the superior firepower of the policemen prevented the hoodlums from gaining entry into the station.
He said, “The incident happened around 4.45pm on Saturday. Due to the superior firepower of the operatives, the hoodlums could not gain entry but during the gun battle, one of the policemen sustained serious injuries from live bullets and he is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.”
