TheCable

Three policemen and four residents of waterside local government area of Ogun state have been reportedly killed by suspected militants.

According to PUNCH, the police officers lost their lives while trying to secure the release of an abducted Chinese expatriate.

A resident was said to have been hit by a stray bullet when the police officers engaged in shootout with the suspects.

The gang also struck at the residence of a businessman identified as Rafiu Daramola, carting away N4.7 million.

Three residents were reportedly shot dead before they left the area.

“Last week Thursday, the militants kidnapped a Chinese expatriate. As they were leaving with their victim, the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad engaged them in a gun battle,” a community leader was quoted as saying.

“The gunmen, however, shot dead three policemen and an indigene. Their corpses were later removed and deposited in a morgue by the police.”

Abimbola Oyeyemi, spokesperson of the Ogun state police command, confirmed the killing, saying a suspected was arrested and the vehicle used by the suspects was recovered.

“They invaded the businessman’s house, but our policemen were able to repel them. At the end of the encounter, we arrested one of the suspects, while their operational vehicle was recovered,” Oyeyemi said.

“The suspect is helping with investigation. The state commissioner of police, Ahmad Iliyasu, has deployed some special units of the police, including men from the Federal SARS, mobile police force, anti-kidnapping unit, and other conventional policemen, in the scene to ensure security of lives and property.”

Femi Onanuga, chairman of the local government, while also confirming the killing of the three police officers, appealed to the federal and state government’s to come to their rescue.

“The three policemen and another man were killed during the shootout to free the Chinese expatriate. It was after that encounter that the militants attacked the businessman and stole the money,” he said.

“Earlier, they had kidnapped another settler, Mrs. Shittu. She was held in captivity for two weeks, until her husband paid a ransom of N1.4 million. We are calling on the state and federal governments to come to our rescue. These militants must not overwhelm us.”