Police arrest gunmen who killed three officers on patrol in Delta, recover AK-47 rifles

• The fallen officers were identified as Inspector Monday Orowhigoh, Inspector Festus Obey, and an unnamed mobile policeman
• The attackers not only killed the officers but also stole their service rifles and set their patrol van on fire
  

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Two members of the gang responsible for the killing of three police officers from the Delta State police command’s Dragon Patrol Team have been apprehended by the Nigeria Police Force.

WithinNigeria had reported that the tragic incident occurred on Sunday when six gunmen attacked the officers during a stop-and-search operation along the Ughelli/Asaba Road, near IDU Roundabout, Oleh, headquarters of the Isoko South Local Government Area of the state.

The fallen officers were identified as Inspector Monday Orowhigoh, Inspector Festus Obey, and an unidentified mobile policeman. The attackers not only took the lives of the officers but also looted their service rifles and set their patrol van on fire.

Confirming the arrest of two gang members, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe, issued a statement on Monday, stating that three AK-47 rifles and one assault rifle were recovered during the operation.

“In response to the attack on police operatives attached to Dragon Patrol team on 23/7/2023, at about 1140hours while on a stop-and-search duty at Oleh roundabout by suspected bandits, who shot and killed two operatives and set the patrol vehicle ablaze, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Wale Abass, detailed a combined team of policemen attached to Ozoro Area command, Dragon patrol to go after the attackers.

“With the support of troops from the Nigerian Army, 63 Brigade and members of the local vigilante the men swung into action.

“During the operation, the combined team engaged the hoodlums in a serious gun duel, subdued the hoodlums who fled into the bush having been inflicted gunshot injuries. The team traced their blood to a river where one AK-47 rifle was recovered on the same date of the incident. The response team sustained the tempo and continued the operation on 24/7/2023. Acting on credible intelligence, they stormed Erewa community bush in Isoko North LGA, where they engaged the remnant of the bandits in serious gun duel, neutralized one of them, arrested two others, recovered two more AK-47 rifles, one Assault rifle, four magazines and twelve 7.62 AK-47 ammunition.

“Effort is still on to track down other members of the syndicate. The Commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Wale Abass psc assures residents that the Command will not relent in the fight against crime and criminality while counting on the support from well-meaning Deltans in ensuring that the State is safe for all.”