Irate mob invade police station over arrested robbery suspects; inspector, two others killed during fracas

An inspector and two locals have been killed during an attack on a police station in Kogi State, authorities confirmed.

The Public Relations Officer of the Kogi State Police Command, William Aya, disclosed this in a statement.

He explained that the incident was a fallout of the robbery attacks on two banks in Odo-Ere and Egbe by armed men.

Aya stated that the attacks occurred on Tuesday in Yagba West Local Government Area of the state.

Following the incidents, the police launched a manhunt of the suspects in synergy with other security agencies, as well as the local hunters and vigilantes in search of the gunmen said to have escaped to the hills.

The command’s spokesman disclosed that two of the suspects were arrested and taken to the Odo-Ere Division (police station) following the search conducted through aerial surveillance by a police helicopter, along with the special forces.

He, however, said a mob stormed the police facility, demanding that the two suspects arrested be given to them to lynch.

While efforts by the police to pacify the mob proved abortive, Aya said they became violent during which one Inspector Bamisaye Gbenga was killed and another policeman, Sunday Alechenu, was injured.

According to Aya, two persons – a male and a female – were also injured in an effort to disperse the mob. But they later died in a hospital while the mob set part of the station ablaze.

The command condemned the attack on its facility and called on the residents of Odo Ere, especially the youths to refrain from taking the law into their hands.

Read the full statement below:

It would be recalled that, on Tuesday 14/12/2021, some suspected armed robbers attacked the UBA in Odo-Ere and Access Bank Egbe all in Yagba West Local Government of Kogi State.

Consequently, the Police launched a manhunt of the suspects in synergy with other security agencies, the Hunters and Vigilantes to the hills where they escaped to.

While the operations are going on through aerial surveillance by the Police Helicopter alone with the Special Forces at the Oke-Ere hills, where the Hoodlums were trapped, two of the suspects were arrested and taken to Odo-Ere Division.

The irate mob went to the station, demanding that the two suspects arrested be given to them to Lynch. All efforts by the Police to placate the mob prove abortive, and they became violent, in the process lynched one INSPR. Bamisaye Gbenga, to death and injured PC Sunday Alechenu.

In the efforts to disperse the mob, two persons, a male and a female were maimed but both died in the hospital while receiving treatment. Meanwhile, Part of the station was set ablaze by the mob.

The Commissioner of Police while condemning the act of lawless perpetrated by the Youth of Ode-Ere, calls on them to restrain from taking the law into their hands. While assuring the public that at the conclusion of the investigation, the suspects will be arraigned in court to face justice.

The Commissioner of Police extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during the unfortunate incident

DSP WILLIAM OVYE AYA,

POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,

FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE,

KOGI STATE POLICE COMMAND