Kidnappers shoot DPO in Edo

Kidnappers shoot DPO in Edo

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Igarra, the headquarters of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, Suleiman Muhammed, has been shot by suspected kidnappers along the Auchi-Igarra-Ibillo Road.

The incident occurred few metres before Sasaro around 7 pm on Tuesday, leaving many commuters stranded.

They had to wait until the local vigilance members went to evacuate the seriously-injured DPO.

A member of the vigilance group from Igarra hinted that the DPO was shot in the eye, arm and stomach probably with AK-47 rifles.

He said “The DPO had earlier called us in the morning to a place where they said some suspected yahoo boys constituted a nuisance, then later around 3 pm, he told us that suspected kidnappers were blocking the road.

“So, we went there and chased the kidnappers away. I was told that later in the evening, after inspecting the change of guard, the DPO proceeded in his Toyota Camry car to Auchi where his family resides.

“The gunmen laid ambush after the MTN mast near Sasaro and shot the DPO many times. They thought he was dead and then abandoned him.

“Their gunshots made motorists going to Auchi and coming from Auchi to stop until we arrived at the scene in company with the police to rush the DPO to the hospital.

“He was bleeding profusely because he was shot. After stabilizing him, he was rushed to Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo State.”

Edo Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bello Kontongs, a Superintendent of Police (SP) stated that he was on official assignment outside Edo when contacted.