Suspected bandits on Saturday killed three police officers and five vigilantes in an ambush in Ajaokuta, Kogi state, multiple sources say.
The killings was uncovered when suspicious movements were reported at the Ajaokuta police station.
According to a witness, the locals had reported at the Divisional Police Headquarters that some people were using their farms for criminal activities. The DPO then deployed his men and some vigilantes with a view to repelling an impending attack.
The witness said that unknown to them, the hoodlums had laid ambush for the policemen and vigilante and that they opened fire on sighting them.
Kogi State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omadara (retd.) has since confirmed that three police officers and five vigilantes were killed in an ambush by bandits on Saturday.
He corroborated the story of the witness that the Divisional Police Officer, acting on an intelligence report that hoodlums had invaded a farm and were engaging in illegal activities, mobilised officers in collaboration with men of local vigilantes.
“They were, however, ambushed and in the process, eight of them were killed including three police officers and five members of the local vigilantes,” he said.
He, however, noted that the Kogi state government would not rest until the culprits were arrested.
