* Local security operatives kill two kidnappers
Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki
The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the killing of the state Commissioner for Pension Board, Hon. Adebayo Solomon and the abduction of the Chairman of Yagba East Local Government, Mr. Pius Kolawole and some others by gunmen.
Unknown gunmen also on Saturday night attacked the Abaomege Police Station in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, killing of one Police officer on duty while another received a gunshot injury.
The injured policeman was receiving treatment at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.
However, the attack on the police station was not totally successful as the gunmen failed to gain full access into the station.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO DSP Loveth Odah could not be reached as at the time of filling in this report.
The slain Kogi State commissioner was said to be travelling from Ilorin to Kabba when his vehicle was said to have been shot at Eruku village a few kilometres to Egbe the border town between Kwara and Kogi state by some gunmen.
His remains had been deposited at ECWA Hospital, Egbe, while the whereabouts of Kolawole remained unknown.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ayuba Ede, said an intensive investigation was in progress to unravel the perpetrators of the heinous act.
The abducted council chairman was said to have intensified efforts to rid his local government area of hoodlums suspected to be herdsmen terrorising the council.
Kogi State has been experiencing cases of kidnapping and robberies, with many blaming the criminal activities on the deplorable section of the roads.
Meanwhile, a Joint Taskforce of Neighborhood watch, vigilantes, hunters and other security agents yesterday repelled the notorious kidnappers operating in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State yesterday.
The local security outfit also killed two gang members and freed three captives.
Two kidnappers: Monday Mimiko alias Aneni the law and Abu Billi alias Don German, died during the crossfire with the security personnel while two others escaped with gunshot wounds.
The security team also freed three persons kidnapped by the gang during operation around Egume.
The criminal gang had been terrorising the Okura axis of Dekina LGA for years engaging in kidnapping and armed robbery.
Confirming the incident, Dekina LGA chairman, Hon Ishaq Okolo said the security operatives were acting on the directive of the governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello to fish out criminal elements wherever they were in the society.
Okolo urged members of the public to give useful information about criminals to the security agencies, noting that all hands must be on deck to ensure a crime-free society.
