SUSPECTED ‘HERDSMEN’ SEIZED FOUR POLICEMEN IN BENUE

 Penpushing also gathered further that a police officer who sustained gunshot injury was taken to the hospital in Ayilamo, the headquarters of the local government

The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni was quoted to have confirmed that his men had an encounter with the suspects in Azege area when they started hearing gun fire on their return from a confidence patrol

 “We had had an encounter around Azege when a team of mobile police went on confidence patrol. When they were coming back at a point in Azege, they started hearing gunfire from inside the bush suspected to be from the herdsmen. There was a serious exchange of gunfire”, Owoseni was quoted

The police boss added, “One of our vehicles was set ablaze. So far, on their side, we’re still trying to ascertain casualties; while we’re yet to see four of our men’, adding that more officers have been dispatched to the areas to comb for the missing officers.

Owoseni said the attack should be seen as an evidence of police’s proactive approach towards the crisis assuring that Azege and its environs are safe, and urged the residents to believe in the ability of police to return peace to the entire state.

“People are saying police are not working, but going on confidence-building patrol is being proactive. If we didn’t go on patrol, how would we have suffered this attack?” We will not relent, we’ll continue to take the fight to them and give assurances to the people that we won’t wait until they come and attack them,” he said.