Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the killing of two persons by some yet to be identified gunmen who stormed Ibado-Akpacha community in Akpacha ward of Ife district in Omala local government of the state.
The third victim of the attack was said to have been lucky enough to have escaped with bullets wounds.
The attack was reportedly carried out between last Tuesday night and early hours on Wednesday by the gunmen.
It was learnt that the victims of the attack whose names could not be obtained before this report were said to be local miners who relocated to the village two years ago due to Coal mining activities in the community.
One of the community leaders who pleaded not to be mentioned said, ‘The criminals also performed some robbery operation breaking into people’s houses and collecting money and also breaking into shops at a junction in the village and carting away consumables and assorted goods.
‘We were all stuck on our beds, stuck between running out of the house to escape or remain on your bed and pray for divine protection. We only came out this morning when we were sure that the gunmen had left. And we headed towards the direction of the gun sound to discover the victims’
‘The criminals operated for good one hour and eventually escaped without any response from the Police and the local security personnel in the community because of the superior weapons they carried, it would have been a major disaster and heavy casualties to confront them.’
Confirming the incident on Thursday, the Kogi State Police Command spokesman, Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Ovye Aya (CSP) said it was a case of armed robbery and homicide.
He said that the hoodlums invaded, robbed a house, and shot at two persons adding that when the victims were taken to the hospital, the doctor confirmed them dead.
Aya also said that the hoodlums went to another house and robbed a person of some amount of money from where they went to the shop of a businessman, one Abubakar Yusuf.
He said that they robbed one Yusuf of 20 Android phones and 200 button phones adding that one person escaped with bullet wounds.
The PPRO further confirmed that the Police have launched investigation, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police incharge of investigation.
He added, ‘some of members of the public are also collaborating with us by providing us information to help arrest the perpetrators.’