In a horrific incident, Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Agbarho Division in Delta State alongside some of his officers were ambushed and killed by a group of suspected kidnappers.
The chilling attack on the newly appointed DPO and his men reportedly occurred in the early hours of Monday, just two days after the DPO assumed office at the Agbarho Divisional Command.
Reports from the incident suggest that the deceased DPO, together with the DPO of Orerokpe division, had jointly led a team of officers on a kidnapping rescue operation in the early hours of Monday. The team was allegedly ambushed by a group of kidnappers in the vicinity of Agbarho rail station.
The suspected kidnappers reportedly launched their ambush with a fierce hail of bullets. In the ensuing gunfight, the newly appointed DPO and some police officers were tragically killed, while CSP Paul miraculously survived by the narrowest of margins.
CSP Paul was promptly transported to an undisclosed medical facility, where healthcare professionals engaged in a valiant effort to preserve his life and stabilize his condition.
Reacting to the incident, Israel Joe, a local activist based in Warri expressed his profound sorrow, stating that he was pained and saddened by the loss of these dedicated law enforcement officers who were in the line of duty.
Joe said, “I feel very pained about this news. This was the same DPO I spoke with yesterday about the conduct of his men who demanded money from a citizen, and he rescued the situation immediately, cautioning his men not to try that again under his watch.
“This is very tearful, I can, to some extent, attest to the characters of these men. I wish to convey my condolences to the Nigeria Police Force, the CP Delta State Command, entire family and friends of the police who lost their lives in a quest to save society in the front line of duty. None of these demons should be spared by the force”.
Upon inquiry, SP Bright Edafe, the Delta State Police Command’s spokesperson, verified the details of this gruesome incident.
He stated “They (the police team) were ambushed. But it’s only the DPO that we lost.”
