CITIZENS COMPASS –There was palpable fear in Delta State on Monday, following the killing of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) by some gunmen.
Spokesperson, Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria.
According to him, it occurred in Agbarho Community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.
The DPO, identified simply as Jega, was a Chief Superintendent of Police in charge of the Agbarho Division in Ughelli North.
The spokesperson said the slain DPO, in the company of the DPO for Orerokpe Division, Paul Obaware, and other police operatives, went for an operation in Agbarho Community when suspected kidnappers ambushed and opened fire on them, killing the DPO.on the spot.
He said Mr Obaware, a chief superintendent of police, was now in a stable condition.
A human rights activist in the State, Israel Joe on his Facebook post said, “What a big blow to the Delta State Command of the Nigeria Police Force.
“The New DPO Agbarho who resumed two days ago, The DPO Orerokpe CSP Paul and their men, who went for a kídnap rescue operation at about 1:am in the early hours of today were ambushed close to the Agbarho rail Station.
“There was an exchange of fire, the new DPO, and some policemen were kíIIed while the Orerokpe DPO has been rushed to an undisclosed hospital where he is battling with his life.
“I feel very pained about this news. This was the same DPO I spoke with yesterday about the conduct of his men who demanded money from a citizen, and he rescued the situation immediately, cautioning his men not to try that again under his watch.
“This is very tearful, I can, to some extent, attest to the characters of these men.
“I wish to convey my condolences to the Nigeria Police Force, the CP Delta State Command, the entire family and friends of the police who lost their lives in a quest to save society in the front line of duty.
“None of these demons should be spared by the force.”
In a related development, some aggrieved youths in Agenebode Etsako East LGA on Sunday, burnt down a police station and set a suspected kidnappers/organ harvesters ablaze
Problem began following the death of a kidnapped youth in the area.
It was gathered that the youth was kidnapped recently and killed despite the payment of ransom a development which angered the youths.
The community, resorting to self help, were able to trace the mobile phone of the slain youth (which was still in use by the kidnappers) to a Fulani settlement in the area.
The community apprehended the suspects and handed them over to the police.
However, upon noticing the inaction of the police regarding the case, the youths besieged the station and demanded that the suspects be returned to their custody.
This later led to a heated argument which degenerated and led to an altercation.
It was gathered that one of the youths was shit dead and this ignited the situation and the police station was razed.
The youths were said to have retrieved the suspected kidnappers and a number of them were slain immediately.
The prime suspect was said to have led them to the shallow grave where the kidnapped Agenebode youth was killed and buried. Other mutilated and decomposing bodies were found and the suspect confessed to the fact that he and his group had killed several other people during their stay in the town. The decomposing parts of the slain youth was transported back to the main community.
