Police area commander shot in Edo

The Edo police command, on Friday, confirmed that yet-to-be-identified gunmen shot a senior police officer in the line of duty.

Chidi Nwabuzor, the command spokesman, who confirmed the incident to NAN in Benin, the Edo capital, disclosed that the officer is an area commander.

Nwabuzor did not state the name of the officer, but said the gunmen shot the policeman while responding to a distress call.

He, however, added that the wounded officer is receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility in Benin.

According to NAN, sources said the incident occurred in the early hours of Friday at the popular Murtala Muhammed way, by the third east circular road junction in Benin.

The development comes days after gunmen attacked the Igueben divisional police headquarters in the state.

The attack was said to have lasted for hours, leaving the building riddled with bullets, while vehicles, including that of the divisional police officer, were vandalised.

Residents, who spoke on the incident, said the reason for the attack was not known.

Speaking on the attack, Johnson Kokumo, the Edo commissioner for police, explained that one of the hoodlums was killed, while two officers sustained gunshot injuries.

“The policemen on duty repelled the attack and they were able to get one of the armed hoodlums who has, of course, been taken to the morgue,” he said.

“In the process, two policemen sustained gunshot injuries and they were taken to the hospital.”