Sad: Three policemen killed, others injured as IG’s men, vandals clash

Three policemen attached to the Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Unit were shot to death and many injured after vandals clashed with them at the Obadore area of Igando, Lagos State.

It was gathered that the armed vandals, numbering over 20, positioned themselves in strategic positions in the creeks to wade off “intruders” and ambushed the policemen.

It was heard that three policemen were killed and many others injured.



It was also alleged that nine of the suspected vandals were killed, but nobody could confirm it.

The Police authority however confirmed that three policemen were killed.

The incident was said to have occurred around 10am on Thursday.

Other members of the squad, who were able to escape, quickly radioed for re-enforcement.

Different police stations and divisional police officers under ‘Area M’ Police Command, Egbeda/Idimu, closest to the scene, were directed to the scene.

It was gathered that the team responding to a tip-off stormed the area and quickly intercepted three loaded vehicles and two empty vehicles of fuel products.

The team also nabbed a female suspected vandal simply identified as Anchika at the site.

Just as the team was about to leave with the exhibits and the female suspect, vandals, who had laid ambush, appeared from nowhere and opened fire on them.

Some members of the team quickly recovered from their shock and retaliated.

A police source: “At the end of the shootout, two of the policemen were seriously wounded and might have been killed. Others sustained several gunshot injuries too. I do not know whether more suspects were arrested from the scene.”

Another source insisted that three dead and wounded policemen were taken to the Igando General Hospital.

“As we speak, there is massive operation ongoing in the area as armed policemen are now everywhere,” said the source.

Residents said nine vandals were hit during the clash.

Force spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu, who confirmed the incident, said that three policemen were killed.

When the Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, was called on the matter, he confirmed that Police officers from the IGP’s Special Task Force on Anti-Vandalism had an encounter with vandals, leading to the loss of some policemen.

Nwosu however insisted it was not his purview to confirm such an incident.

According to him, the Anti-vandalism unit has an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Friday Ibadin, who is in charge of the unit.

He said it was Ibadin’s jurisdiction.

Several calls were made to Ibadin, however, were not picked.

He also did not reply text messages.

Ojukwu said: “Some pipeline vandals engaged the IGP’s Special Task Force on Oil pipeline Vandalism. Police have started hunting for the shooters. We do not have policemen specially classified as IGP’s men. Every police officer is from the IGP. But the situation is under control now. We’re investigating the circumstances thoroughly and we assure you that the offenders will be apprehended.”