TheCable

Two policemen in the Ikorodu area of Lagos have been murdered by pipeline vandals, the state police command said on Wednesday.

Kenneth Nwosu, the command’s public relation officer, who confirmed the development, said the problem began when officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) intercepted the vandals who were stealing petrol from a pipeline.

According to Nwosu, the NSCDC officers called for reinforcement from the police and the military when they could not withstand the vandals.

But the alleged oil thieves resisted arrest, resulting into a fracas.

The suspected vandals were said to have escaped, only to storm the Owutu police station in Ikorodu on Monday, opening fire at the policemen on duty.

Two officers died in the process while five sustained injuries.

“The shootout was between the policemen at the Owutu Division and some suspected vandals,” Nwosu said.

“A lot of people, including the vandals, were injured in the shootout and after they killed our men, they escaped but with several gunshot wounds. We shot many of them but they escaped with bullet wounds.”

Nwosu alleged that the vandals also looted the station’s armoury and took away some of the guns.

He assured the public that efforts to arrest the suspects were ongoing.