The Delta State Police Command has mourned the death of the newly posted Divisional Police Officer in Agbarho Division in Delta State, CSP N.H. Jega, and some of his men by a kidnap syndicate in the state.
The incident reportedly occurred around 1 am on Monday, two days after the DPO assumed office at the divisional command.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the deceased DPO together with the DPO, Orerokpe Division, CSP Paul, had jointly led their men for a rescue operation of a kídnap victim in the early hours of Monday, during which they were ambushed by members of the kidnap syndicate, at a location close to the Agbarho rail station.
The suspected kidnappers were said to have greeted the security teams with sporadic gunshots.
In the exchange of fire, the new DPO and some policemen were reportedly kílled while the Orerokpe DPO missed death by the whiskers and was rushed to an undisclosed hospital where doctors are currently battling to save his life.
A Warri-based activist, Israel Joe, confirmed the incident in a signed statement made available to newsmen on Monday.
He said, “I feel very pained about this news. This was the same DPO I spoke with yesterday about the conduct of his men who demanded money from a citizen, and he rescued the situation immediately, cautioning his men not to try that again under his watch.
“This is very tearful. I can, to some extent, attest to the characters of these men.
“I wish to convey my condolences to the Nigeria Police Force, the Commissioner of Police Delta State Command, entire family and friends of the police who lost their lives in a quest to save society in the front line of duty.
“None of these demons should be spared by the force.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State Command, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the gory incident.
“They (police team) were ambushed. But it’s only the DPO that we lost”, he stated.
