Gunmen kill three police officers, set patrol van ablaze

Gunmen on Sunday killed three police officers identified as Festus Akpobome and two others along Ughelli / Asaba road by the Oleh roundabout, Isoko South Local Council of Delta State.

It was gathered that the hoodlums, armed with sophisticated weapons, overwhelmed the officers during the gun deal, and killed three policemen on the spot.

The killing occurred barely a week after a police Inspector, Jude Ukpaka, attached to the Dragon Patrol Team was gunned down along the Ogor/Evwreni axis of the East-West road.

Sources said the gunmen suspected to be kidnappers were on operation, when they attacked the security agents at the police checkpoint.

The source explained that the gun battle lasted a few minutes as the hoodlums hurriedly left the scene after realising that three lifeless bodies were on the ground.

Though the information about the killings is still sketchy, it was gathered that the police patrol van was set ablaze by the hoodlums.

During the attack, commercial drivers, who ply the route abandoned their vehicles, while their passengers alighted and fled into the bush for fear of being caught by stray bullets from the hoodlums.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Delta State, Bright Edafe, said one the hoodlums was killed, while two others were arrested.

Edafe added that three AK 47 rifles, twelve 7.62 AK-47 ammunition, and one assault rifle were recovered from the bandits.

“Effort is still on to track down other members of the syndicate,” he added.