Five policemen have been killed by armed robbers in Abeokuta and Ibafo areas of Ogun State between Sunday and the early hour of Monday.

Specifically, three of the policemen were killed by the robbers in Oke Itoku area of Abeokuta in the early hours of Monday when they were ambushed by a 15-man gang of robbers while two were killed when another set of robbers stormed World Oil Filling Station in Ibafo, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway around 9pm on Sunday.

A source said the policemen killed in Abeokuta had received a distress call around 2am that robbers were operating in the area and five of them set out to confront the bandits resulting in a shoot-out.

The robbers, it was learnt, opened fire on the policemen killing three of them instantly and injured two others. The policemen were attached to the State Quick Response Squad of the Command.

The source told one of our correspondents that doctors at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, are still battling to save the lives of the injured policemen.

On the Ibafo incident, an eyewitness said the robbers came into the filling station with three vehicles pretending to be customers.

 “They came in around 9pm with three Pathfinder jeeps and parked on the premises. There were policemen around. Unfortunately one of the policemen was standing near one of their vehicles, they just shot him dead immediately.”

The witness, who craved anonymity, also said one of the civilians who was killed was a hawker and was hit by stray bullets.

A policeman, who witnessed the incident, said, “We were around the vicinity when they came in three Jeeps and parked in different spots within the filling station. From my observation, the armed robbers were about 13.

“One of our colleagues was standing close to where they parked one of their vehicles when they shot him at close range, killing him on the spot.

 “The other policeman was shot during a shoot-out with the robbers. They have both been taken to the mortuary.

“I cannot give you their particulars until an official contact has been made with their family but we are posted here from the Ogun State Police Command.”

The policeman also confirmed that two civilians were killed by stray bullets while some others were injured.

 “We had to hide in order not to become victims as the rifles they carried were automatic,” he added.

The owner of the station was not available when one of our correspondents visited the scene. However, the workers declined to comment on the incident.

The Police Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the killings, said a suspect had been arrested in connection with the Abeokuta incident.

Adejobi, an assistant superintendent of police, added that investigations were still ongoing.

“The  command  has arrested a suspect in connection with the incident. Investigation has been launched to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the PPRO said.

Meanwhile, Governor Ibikunle Amosun has commiserated with the families of the slain policemen, describing the development as sad.

The governor, who spoke during his visit to the hospital where the injured policemen are receiving treatments, promised to assist the families of the dead policemen and ensure that those injured were taken care of.

He assured the people of the state of adequate security of lives and property.

“We have notified all hospitals to report any treatment of gun-shot injuries. This is an isolated incident; there will be no comfort zone for robbers in this state,” Amosun said.

CULLED FROM PUNCHNG.COM