Gunmen burn rented police station, kill policeman in A’Ibom

Samuel Ekpo,Uyo

Gunmen have killed a police constable as they razed a rented divisional police station in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The policeman, Constable Edogi Bassey, was caught in the crossfire with the bandits as he was said to have desperately tried to prevent them from gaining access to the station.

The police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon who confirmed the attack in a statement in Uyo, said the hoodlums drove into the station in two vehicles loaded with dangerous weapons including AK-47 rifles and opened fire at once.

Macdon in the statement, entitled, ‘Police repelled attack at police stations,’ mentioned that only a negligible portion of the building was torched.

“At about 6:30 am Wednesday, armed men, in their numbers, armed with AK 47 rifles and other dangerous weapons, in two vehicles attacked the rented building housing the Etim Ekpo Area Command and Division.

“The undaunted and vigilant police officers on duty, gallantly fought back, repelled them and averted the intended carnage.

“Unfortunately, a dedicated officer, one PC Edogi Bassey paid the supreme price while a small portion of the building was torched.

“The gunmen, who proceeded to Ika division to perpetrate their nefarious activities were successfully again repelled leaving the station intact without loss of lives or arms,” he said in the statement.

The statement noted that the worrisome situation is being addressed by the police hierarchy and requires the collaboration of all adding that Commissioner of Police, Andrew Amiengheme, has visited police formations and had called on law abiding citizens to volunteer timely information that will enable the Police tackle the present security challenges in the state.