Four police rescuers killed

Less than 48 hours after it paraded 44 suspected criminals, the Edo State Police Command on Friday lost four of its men in an attempt to rescue Mike Ozekhome, SAN, from suspected kidnappers.

The suspects, who it was gathered succeeded in taking away Ozekhome and his driver, are being trailed by the police, led by state Commissioner of Police, Foluso Adebanjo.

Briefing journalists on the incident in Benin, on Saturday, Adebanjo said, "Operatives of the command led by DPO Ehor Division responded swiftly to a distress call at about 3:30pm that unspecified number of armed men had blocked the Benin-Auchi road by Ehor axis. However, the hoodlums ambushed the patrol vehicle and opened fire on them, prompting an exchange of fire.

"At the end of the gun duel, the hoodlums escaped with bullet wounds but not without their victim, who was later identified upon search on his abandoned vehicle as Ozekhome and his driver. Regrettably, the command lost four officers in the encounter. We salute their rare courage and bravery for they fought and died as heroes for the course of humanity."

The CP continued, "Their death shall not be in vain. We remain undeterred in our fight against banditry."

Speaking on the development over the telephone, Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, said, "We once again call on the general public not to relent in their partnership with the police to fish out the criminals as common enemy to our society and report anyone found with the bullet wounds to the nearest police station."

Source: Punch