SPADE News.
A police inspector and two rank and files attached to the Delta State Police Command, State Headquarters, Asaba, were on Saturday night, attacked by suspected bandits in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Two rifles were also allegedly reported to have been carted away by the bandits during the attack on the policemen, who were said to be on a stop – and – search duty in Asaba.
The victims were reportedly said to be manning the NIPPI Point at Inter-bau roundabout by ASCON Oil fuel station in Asaba, where they were machetes by the bandits.
Sources disclosed that the victims at the time of the attack were said to have sustained deep machete cuts from the hoodlums who allegedly disarmed two of the police officers.
Our impeccable source from the area who rushed to the scene after the incident and overheard the discussions on how the attack happened, further disclosed that the bandits attacked the cops after about 15 minutes that the Police Patrol Van left with the driver and one of the officers leaving only three officers behind at the NIPPI Point.
The source stated that the first victim just finished directing a driver making phone call in a parked vehicle to leave the vicinity to another area when about four of the suspected bandits attacked him with machete and made away with his riffle. And as he was being attacked, another group were also attacking Inspector Francis whose gun was also snatched.
The only lucky one of them was the police corporal who was said to escaped with his own riffle but also suffered machete cuts in his hand
Further investigation revealed that the Team was actually comprised of seven man Team but only five reported for duty that very day. And that while the five officers were Manning the Inter-Bua Nippi Point, one Sergeant Azuka called the Team Leader known as Inspector Francis to send the vehicle to State Headquarters to convey someone to Area Command’s Quarter which made the Patrol Van driver and one officer to leave their duty post.
Sources revealed that the two other officers that failed to turn up at duty post were on an illegal duty at one Emirate Hotels, where the Station Officer (SO) is benefiting free accommodation. Hence only five reported for duty before two were called off to remain three.
In a phone call to the Delta State Command Police Public Relations Officer, Supol Orisewezie Chuks on the ugly incident, the Police PRO confirmed the attack but denied knowledge of snatched riffles. While the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Adeyinka Adeleke did not pick his calls and also did not respond to SMS sent to him seeking his reaction.
Further investigation revealed that the CP denied knowledge of the incident to another journalist who called him earlier.