The attack on a team of policemen in Owutu area of Ikorodu, Lagos, in the early hours of Monday, during which three policemen were shot dead and others injured, was said to have been carried out by militants-turned vandals.
militants
This is just as the policeman, who managed to escape from the scene of the shooting, attributed his survival to his name.
The surviving policeman, a Sergeant identified as Fortunate Endurance Imasuen, according to a family friend who spoke on condition, said: “My name, Fortunate, saved me. For the first time in my life, I knew the meaning of my name.
“I am indeed fortunate and I thank God for my parents who gave me such name.”
Sergeant Imasuen, said to be in a stable condition yesterday, was reportedly shot in the leg.
Impeccable sources disclosed that the militants, who attacked the policemen, were clad in black shirts and trousers, with red bands tied on their heads.
They were reportedly alerted by their colleagues who were apprehended by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, for onward transfer to the Anti-Pipeline Vandalism squad.
At press time, the whereabouts of the three policemen said to have been shot by the vandals were yet unknown.
Information at Vanguard’s disposal revealed that trouble was allegedly caused by operatives of the SARS who were deplored to the area to checkmate activities of vandals.
A total of 150 SARS operatives were reportedly deplored to Ishawo area to complement efforts of policemen from Owutu Division.
It was also gathered that SARS operatives pin-down point was different from that of policemen from Owutu.
Between SARS, Owutu police
Report had it that while a team of policemen from Owutu allegedly allowed the vandals passage, their colleagues from SARS insisted on handing them over to the Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Unit inspite of explanation by the vandals that they had allegedly paid an unspecified amount to some of their colleagues.
The argument reportedly went on for about 30 minuites, when all of a sudden, their colleagues, numbering over 50, stormed the area and opened fire on the unsuspecting policemen, killing three of them on the spot.
Although one of the vandals was reportedly shot dead, his body was said to have been taken away in one of his colleagues’ operational vehicles, alongside that of the dead policemen.
Police reacts
Spokesperson of Lagos State Police Command, Patricia Amadin, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, confirmed the attack.
She said: “ The policemen encountered an attack by armed men suspected to be militants at about 3a.m., Monday.
“Meanwhile, the command is on the lookout for three of its personnel discovered missing after the encounter, while an intensive manhunt is on for the fleeing felons.
“The command appeals to the public to volunteer in-formation and report cases of pesons with gunshot wounds to the nearest station.”
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