The Harbingerngr News

SIX persons, including the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Awada Police Division, near Obosi, in Idemili North Local Government Area, and two police operatives attached to the division, as well as three unidentified gunmen, were killed yesterday, during a gun battle between the gunmen and the police. It is the third of such attacks in the local council, in the past five days, and sixth in the state in the past two weeks. It was gathered that the gunmen made a desperate attempt to burn down Awada Police Station, but were stopped by the fire power of the police. A source in the area said: “They were repelled by the security personnel, with three members of the gang gunned down during exchange of fire. “Two AK-47 riffles were recovered from them, including the vehicles (a Toyota Sienna) used for the failed operation by the gang.” The gunmen also killed three policemen, including the DPO of the station, while two more gunmen were captured. “The situation was terrible for people living c...

The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, Mr. Mamud Abubakar, two police personnel, two children and three women have been reportedly killed in separate attacks on Benue State communities by suspected armed herdsmen.  A source in Naka, the Gwer West headquarters, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the murdered DPO and two other police personnel were ambushed and killed yesterday afternoon on Makurdi-Naka Road shortly after alerting the military personnel on a checkpoint of the presence of large number of armed herdsmen in the axis and their intention to attack the communities in Gwer West.  The source said: “After alerting the military personnel of the presence of the large number of armed herdsmen on that stretch of road, the military personnel were mobilising to move into the area while the DPO, who was accompanied by two other police men moved ahead slowly.  “But unknown to them, the armed herders had alread...