TheCable

A police officer was killed when suspected members of the Boko Haram sect attacked the headquarters of the department of state service (DSS) in Lokoja, capital of Kogi state, on Friday night.

A DSS official, who does not want to be named, confirmed the attack to TheCable, saying the insurgents came with the intention to release some of their members in custody of the secret police.

Emmanuel Ojukwu, the state commissioner of police, also confirmed the attack but said he was not sure if Boko Haram was behind the incident.

“The attack took place around 9:40 pm last night but we are still trying to ascertain the identities of the attackers,” he told TheCable.

Ojukwu later told NAN that one of his men was killed when a team of security forces from the police, army and DSS engaged the gunmen.

However, the DSS official said the service did not record any casualty but three of the insurgents were killed, while some were arrested.

“They stormed our state headquarters late last night with the intention to release some of their members in our custody,” he said.

“You know some of them are in our custody. One Abu Kaka, a commander of the sect, is currently with us and some other members, too. So, they opened fire and three of them were killed, while we arrested some.

“Some of our men only sustained injuries but nobody was killed. They only burnt many vehicles within our premises.”