Lokoja – Two persons are missing while three others were critically injured when gunmen launched a deadly attack on officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Obajana area of Kogi State.
The officials came under gun attack while on their way from Kupa North and Kupa South wards where they had gone to conduct the state assembly election.
The two wards, Kupa North and Kupa South are in Lokoja 11 state constituency.
The state police command confirmed the attack on the electoral officers in a statement issued by its spokesman, SP William Aya .
According to the statement, the officials were returning with the election results and other documents to the constituency collation centre in Lokoja when they were attacked.
Aya said 98 officials, comprising INEC permanent and ad hoc staff were involved.
“The Police escort attached to the team responded robustly and engaged with hoodlums in a fierce gun duel.
“On receipt of the distress call, reinforcement teams were promptly mobilized and sent to the scene which equally engaged the attackers and owing to the superior fire power of the Police, the attackers were forced to flee with varying degrees of injuries,” the statement said.
Aya said the police rescue team was led by the state Commissioner of police, Yekini Ayoku who later led the evacuation of the 96 rescued victims.
The 96 rescued victims who were mainly INEC Officials, Adhoc Staff, bus drivers and others were led to the INEC Headquarters in Lokoja.
Aya said the three injured victims were taken to the Federal Medical Centre Lokoja for treatment.
He said nobody died in the attack as being reported by a section of the Media.
The police spokesman said operational and tactical assets of the force gave been deployed to rescue the two missing INEC staff
and apprehend the perpetrators of the attack.
“The Commissioner of Police further tasked the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department to immediately commence thorough investigation with a view to apprehending the miscreants and bring them to deserved justice.
“The Commissioner of Police while commending the gallantry displayed by the men of the Force, urged members of the public particularly the adjoining communities to be on the lookout and report any body seen with bullets wounds to the nearest security Formation or agencies.
“He assured the public that the Police will not rest on it’s oars in the fight against criminality in state,” the statement said.(vitalnewsngr.com)
