KOGI ROBBERY: THREE FRIENDS DIE PURSUING DREAMS
They had the same passion of protecting their country from the ‘bad boys’. In the course of actualising their dreams, their paths crossed and they become inseparable.
However, Inspector Samson Muhammed; Sergeants Gbolahan Oladeji and Mudio Orilola died together on Thursday in the hands of the ‘bad boys’ they had devoted a greater part of their lives to hunt and bring to justice.
But their fourth colleague, Sergeant Alfred Usman, would live to tell the story of their exploits and bear the pain of their demise. He was saved by the whiskers when their superior asked him to stay for a relief duty after he had already prepared for the trip.
Daily Trust on Sunday learnt that fate brought the four of them together as officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad where they become members of a crack team hunting criminals down.
“They were devoted to their duties, very popular within the unit and feared by men of the underworld,” an officer who pleaded anonymity said.
It was learnt that they latter moved to the State Investigation Bureau where they also became team members tracking criminals around Kabba-Bunu, Isanlu and Mopa-Moro axis.
“They normally move to the area of assignment on Mondays and returned to Lokoja at the weekend. Even in Lokoja, they were always together,” a source explained.
He said on that fateful Thursday, they arrived Isanlu and reported at the police division to announce their presence preparatory to commence operation.
After reporting, they were under a tree in front of the division waiting for another colleague who had gone to buy some items when the assailants appeared from nowhere and opened fire.
The officers could not respond because their service rifles were in the vehicle.
The source said Sgt Adedeji was preparing for his wedding which is due in a few weeks before the unfortunate incident.
Our reporter learnt that the gunmen entered the division after killing the officers outside the premises and also killed the Divisional Police Officer, DSP Adebola Tajudeen, and others.
Five women police officers were said to have lost their lives in the attack. They include W/Sgt Charity Adeleke, W/Sgt Remi Adeyanju, W/PC Aminat Yusuf all of Isanlu Division.
Others include Inspector Samson Muhammed, Sgt Gbolahan Oyedeji, Sgt Mudio Orilola and Sgt Agojino Idoko.
Sources said the attack on the divisional headquarters went on simultaneously with that of the First Bank branch located in the heart of the town where the gunmen also deployed dynamites.
“We received report of the unfortunate incident where some armed robbers numbering about 25 invaded Isanlu town and simultaneously attacked the First Bank Branch as well as the Police Station with AK47 rifles and dynamites to gain access to the facilities,” DSP William Ayah, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed in a statement.
Sources said the gun men divided themselves into three groups for the purpose of the operation, adding that while one group took over the main road leading in and out of the town, the other two took care of the bank and police division.
Daily Trust on Sunday learnt that residents ran into their houses and shut the doors as bullets rained.
“My house is located along the main road where a group of the robbers held sway, members of my immediate family who were at home during the incident had to lock themselves in while the bullets were flying,” the source explained.
He said a commercial motor cyclist was caught down by bullets. “He was bringing food for his family who lived nearby when he was shot,” he added.
The group at the bank killed one Mobile police officer at his resident not in the bank. They went to his house were the bank lodged them and killed him,” another source claimed.
One of the victims, W/PC Aminat Yusuf, was buried in her home town Igbagun, Yagba East LGA, yesterday according to Islamic rights.
Daily Trust on Sunday learnt that three civilians were also killed in the attack.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had ordered a manhunt for the criminals shortly after the incident. Police spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, said the IGP had deployed detectives from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), the Special Tactical Squad (STS) and FederalSARS to Kogi State to ensure that the criminals are apprehended and brought to book.
Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, who condemned the killings, called on security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the murderous act. In a statement, Bello described the incident as unacceptable, dastardly and cowardly.