Gunmen bomb Ekiti police station, kill inspector

About 40 gunmen on Friday night attacked the Ido Ekiti Divisional Police Station in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

The gunmen killed a police inspector and wounded two other policemen on duty during the raid.

It was learnt that the gunmen attacked the police station with explosive devices with which they blew off the rooftop of the station and headed for the armoury.

Our correspondent gathered that the late inspector was shot in the legs, stomach and chest by the gunmen. Efforts by doctors to save his life proved abortive.

The two other policemen injured in the attack are receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

A policeman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the armed men invaded the police station around 7.20pm and “brought the place under siege.”

“They drove in recklessly and took over the entire police station. Some even  jumped the fence and took strategic positions. They surrounded the station and started shooting indiscriminately. After shooting armed policemen on duty, they headed for the armoury.

“We suspected that they came to loot the armoury because that was where they first visited after demobilising our men. In fact, they emptied the entire place.”

When asked whether they came to free a high-profile detainee or robbery suspect, the police officer said, “That is not true because nobody was detained in the cell as of the time the incident took place.”

The Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, Alberto Adeyemi, in an interview with our correspondent, confirmed the death of the inspector.

He also confirmed that two other policemen wounded during the attack were recuperating in an hospital.

He said, “The Commissioner of Police, Etop James, has visited the place on a fact-finding mission. We have launched an investigation into the attack.”

Reacting to the development, Governor Ayodele Fayose, on Saturday described the attack on the police station as sad and unfortunate.

Fayose said it was disheartening that such an attack happened in the state.

He said, “This is not a good development but we are working hard to close the gap and ensure the safety of the people.”