Two mobile police officers were killed on Wednesday, while a Chinese national and a Nigerian miner, were abducted by armed assailants at Oreke-Okeigbo mining site in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The two police officers were identified as ASP Haruna Watsai and Inspector Tukur Ogah, both attached to PMF, Abuja, who were on official protective assignment at the location.
The attackers also carted away the rifles of the two deceased police officers.
While the Kwara State Police Command confirmed the development in a statement in Ilorin, on Thursday, through its spokesperson, SP Adetoin Adeyemi Ejire, the traditional ruler of the community, Oba Sunday Micheal Afolabi confirmed in a telephone chat with DAILY POST that the deadly attack and abduction incident that occurred at about 18:30hrs.
The heinous act was done at a mining site located in Oreke-Okeigbo of the state, the police command disclosed in the statement.
According to the statement by the police command, information received from the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in Oreke indicated that a group of unidentified armed assailants invaded the said mining facility, where they tragically shot and killed the two police officers.
“In addition to the heinous killings, the assailants abducted two individuals, Mr. Sam Xie Wie, a Chinese national, and Mr. David Adenaiye, a native from Kogi State who was working at the mining site at the time of the incident.
The state Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, strongly condemned the act of brutality and assured the public that the command has since swung into decisive action.
“Tactical and intelligence-driven efforts are currently underway to ensure the swift rescue of the abducted victims and the apprehension of those responsible for this cowardly attack.
” The Command is working in close synergy with other security agencies and community stakeholders to strengthen its presence in the area and prevent a recurrence of such incidents,” the statement added.
The commissioner urged residents of Kwara State to remain calm and law-abiding, as the Command remains fully committed to the protection of lives and property across the state.
“We appeal to members of the public to provide credible and timely information that could aid the ongoing investigation and recovery efforts.
“Further developments will be communicated as investigations progress,” the statement further stated.
