A riot policeman and three other persons were said to have been killed in Lokoja, Kogi State, following the invasion of the state headquarters of the Department of State Services.
It was gathered on Saturday that a band of gunmen, armed with with sophisticated weapons, at about 9.45pm on Friday, invaded the DSS office.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the heavily armed attackers appeared to overwhelm the DSS operatives in a gun duel, prompting a Deputy Director of the agency, whose name is yet to be ascertained, to quickly put a distress call to the police at about 10. 40pm.
It was gathered that patrol teams with combined efforts of the military men, who were later drafted in, engaged the invaders in a gun battle for over seven hours.
The source said the security operatives later overpowered the attackers while some of the invaders fled into the bush.
He added that at the end of the shootout, the lifeless body of a riot policeman and three of the attackers were discovered.
The source said two of the fleeing attackers forced themselves into the flat of a woman at Otokiti Housing Estate in the state capital.
The woman was said to have assured them of their safety before she locked them in.
It was gathered that she quickly invited the Army, who responded immediately, arrested and and took away the distressed attackers.
The Kogi State Police Commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, confirmed the attack to journalists in Lokoja.
He confirmed that the hoodlums attacked the state DSS office in Lokoja at 9.45pm on Friday.
According to him, the prompt response of the police command led to the death of killing of the attackers while the command lost a policeman.
He said he could not confirm whether the attackers succeeded in entering the DSS office or not.
The CP stated that the command had commenced investigation into the attack.
Ojukwu said, “We are still investigating and we cannot say much for now until we are able to lay our hands on the suspects. I cannot confirm whether they are Boko Haram members or not. All I know is that they are criminal elements and the law will take its course.
“We are working assiduously with other security agencies in the state to ensure that we get to the root of he attack.
“Our mandate is to keep the environment and Kogi free and safe for Nigerians to go about their lawful businesses.
He urged the public to partner with the police in the fight against crime.
“We should have an understanding that there is no way you can solve crime without community involvement.
“Criminals live in our midst. Don’t hide them, criminals don’t respect persons. If you are not a victim today you may be a victim tomorrow if you don’t report criminal elements in your midst,” Ojukwu added.
An eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria that the gunmen arrived in the DSS office at about 10.30pm.
He said the gunmen barricaded the adjoining roads to the office and shot at motorists from all directions.
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Gunmen! gunmen!! gunmen!!! everywhere. Kidnappings in the South and gradually spreading to other states, Fulani herdsmen killing and maiming people and sacking villages in the North and now in the South, robbers also having a field day, terrorists are also doing their own thing - violence everywhere and almost on a daily basis. What is Nigeria turning into? The security agencies surely have a very big challenge to reduce the level of crime in our society, as things appear to be gradually getting out of hand. I pray fervently for God to intervene. If any powerful man or woman or politican is having a hand in any of these, our God will surely expose, disgrace and destroy them in the name of Jesus, Amen.
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