A Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and three other persons were killed on Tuesday evening when gunmen invaded the Afuze Divisional Police Headquarters in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The gunmen also attacked the INEC Office in Afuze. No death was recorded at the INEC office as the officials on the ground during the incident said they fled by jumping over the back fence.
Four Police operatives were killed by the gunmen.
Afuze is the administrative headquarters of Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State.
Those killed included a pregnant Police Sergeant simply identified as Justina.
The DPO and the DCO of the station and one other were also killed.
The slain policewoman was said to have been recently transferred from Benin to Afuze, and was said to have been on duty at the Police Station when the hoodlums struck.
It was gathered that the assailants attacked the DPO’s office with dynamite, before they shot other Police operatives on duty.
Unconfirmed reports had it that the DPO, who had been at home, was lured back to the station under the pretence that he had some visitors.
The gunmen, who were said to be heavily armed, reportedly broke into the cells and released everyone in custody.
It was, however, gathered that three of the fleeing suspects have since been rearrested.
The suspects also reportedly invaded INEC premises in Afuze, where they allegedly set ablaze a Police Hilux van.
The commissioner of police, Dan Mallam Mohammed, who visited the scenes of the attacks on Wednesday morning, confirmed the incident and offered an assurance that investigation was ongoing and justice would be served.
