— Deploys IRT, STS, FSARS Crack Detectives to Kogi State
Kogi State Police Command has launched a manhunt for criminals who attacked a bank and the force divisional headquarters in Isanlu, Kogi state killing 8 police officers and a civilian on Thursday.
In a press statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP William Ovye Aya in Lokoja on Thursday, the spokesman confirmed that the State Commissioner of Police has deployed a team of operatives comprising Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), police mobile force, counter terrorism unit, tactical and operational officers as well as homicide detectives to begin manhunt for the dare-devil criminals.
In a similar development, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered a full-scale manhunt for the perpetrators of the attack on Isanlu Police station and a commercial bank in Yagba East LGA of Kogi State on Thursday.
In a press statement signed by DCP Frank Mba on Friday, the Nigeria Police Force confirmed that the IGP has deployed a team of crack detectives from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), the Special Tactical Squad (STS) and Federal-SARS to Kogi State to ensure that the criminals are apprehended and brought to book.
The IGP according to the statement,has also directed the AIG of Police in charge of the Zone-8 Police Headquarters, Lokoja, AIG Yunana Babas, to immediately assess and review the security arrangement in Kogi State and environs so as to prevent any future occurrence of such untoward incident in the State.
Meanwhile, Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Ede Ayuba Ekpeji has called on the public to “sharpen their power of observation and report any suspicious movement or characters within and around Isanlu area to the police or the nearest security agencies.
Speaking through DSP William Aya, the Police Commissioner stated that the special team deployed to Isanlu will work in synergy with other security agencies to comb the area with the view of arresting the culprits as well as to reassure the residents of their safety.
“At about 1600hrs, the Kogi State Police Command received report of the unfortunate incident where some armed robbers numbering about 25 invaded the Isanlu town and simultaneously attacked the First Bank Branch and the Police Station with AK47 rifles and dynamites to gain access to the facilities.
“During the incident, eight Police officers lost their lives among which were three women Police officers. Others sustained various degrees of injuries. The injured officers were taken to the hospital for treatment while the corpses were deposited at the mortuary,” he said.
He assured the general public that the case will be investigated to its logical conclusion and the perpetrators brought to book.
