Fresh facts have emerged on how the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in-charge of Ibereko Police Station, Badagry was brutally killed by gunmen believed to be soldiers.
An Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who was with the DPO and the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), Taofeek Afolabi has told how the two officers were slain.
The man who is recuperating from a gunshot wound he suffered during the attack told detectives that the DPO, Mr. Samuel Salihu was not shot but was stabbed to death by the soldiers.
He said on the fateful day, the DPO had called him on phone that he and the DCO, Mr. Samson Okedusi should accompany him to the barracks. He said he was not surprised as he had earlier accompanied him to see the Commanding Officer of the Barracks.
According to Afolabi, there was allegation that some policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) had shot dead a soldier on Sunday.
He said the police had already handed over the suspected trigger happy policemen to the Army. According to him, because they were on their way for a peace treaty and on the invitation of the Commanding Officer, the DPO asked the DCO to take them in his Montero Sport Utility Vehicle. Afolabi said a stone throw to the Barracks, they met some soldiers who were beating up some policemen attached to a bank in the area.
According to him, the DPO put through a call to the Commanding Officer, who asked him to drive down to his command so that the two of them could appease the rampaging soldiers. He said as they were driving down to the barracks, they saw a police escort car being burnt by some soldiers and a police Inspector being manhandled by the soldiers.“Sensing that it may not be safe for them to enter the barracks, the DPO ordered the DCO to make a U-turn.”
He said as the DCO was making a U-turn, some soldiers started chasing them, adding that a gunshot was heard, and the bullet hit the DCO. “So, our vehicle fell inside a ditch. Sensing danger, the DPO opened the door and took to his heels. I also took to my heels but a bullet hit me. While I was on the ground, I saw the soldiers stabbing the DPO. They were saying they should torture him to death. He was stabbed severally before he died.”
A senior police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said even after killing the DPO, DCO and an Inspector, the soldiers cordoned off the area and did not allow the police to carry their corpses.“We removed the corpse around 12.30 pm; when we got to Badagry General Hospital, the staff rejected the corpses saying that they were afraid of soldiers. We later succeeded in depositing the corpses at the Ikeja General Hospital.” The officer said: “I am shocked that the Army High command is denying that the dastardly act was committed by their boys. Inspector Moses who was returning from night duty was beaten black and blue near the barracks. The soldiers also set ablaze an escort car belonging to the police.
“The Commanding Officer spoke with the DPO who told him how his boys were manhandling policemen. How can they exonerate their men?” he queried. Meanwhile, some rank and file of the police have vowed to go on strike should the government and the Police high command fail to bring the culprits to book. The rank and file also blamed the State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Yakubu Alkali, who they alleged, had kept mum since the incident occurred.
One Anene (other names withheld) said the DPO had even put in for casual leave two weeks ago but the CP denied him the opportunity. “If he had gone on leave, he would not have been killed.” Anene further stated that preliminary investigation had shown that the soldiers were angered when they heard the comment of the CP who said, “the soldier that was shot dead by the police on Sunday was a smuggler. The comment triggered off the brutal killings of our men.”
Unconfirmed report said the Commanding Officer, Colonel Nasaba has been arrested by the Military Police and handed over to the Army High Command for interrogation after the Tuesday’s killings.
By CHRISTOPHER OJI
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Source : sunnewsonline.com
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