DPO shot by suspected kidnappers in Edo

Suleiman Mohammed, divisional police officer (DPO) of Igarra station in Akoko-Edo LGA of Edo state, has been shot by yet-to-be-identified persons.

Kontongs Bello, spokesman of the Edo police command, confirmed the development to TheCable on Wednesday.

The DPO was said to be on his way from Igarra to Auchi, when he was attacked on the Auchi-Igarra-Ibillo road.

Bello said the command is yet to ascertain if the shooting, which occurred on Tuesday evening, was an attempt to kidnap the officer.

The officer is said to be currently receiving medical treatment.

“It is not ascertained whether they were kidnappers,” the police spokesman said.

“He was shot on his way from Igarra to Auchi. He is already receiving treatment. He is recuperating.”

The development comes days after Tonnie Okoye, a medical doctor, was abducted by gunmen in Edo state.

Okoye, was said to have been travelling to Auchi, in Etsako West LGA of the state, when he was kidnapped along the Benin-Asaba expressway at the weekend.

“Dr Tonnie Okoye was kidnapped along Benin-Asaba expressway this afternoon (Saturday) and the hoodlums are demanding N100 million ransom for his release,” a family member of the doctor told TheCable.