Insurgency spreads to kogi : Soldiers, Boko Haram In Gun Battle In Okene

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of one soldier, an SSS official and nine gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect in a gun duel in Okene, Kogi State. This is the first time the controversial sect is demonstrating its presence in Kogi State. The sect has launched attacks in North-East, […]

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of one soldier, an SSS official and nine gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect in a gun duel in Okene, Kogi State. This is the first time the controversial sect is demonstrating its presence in Kogi State. The sect has launched attacks in North-East, North-West and even the North-Central state of Niger in the last one year.

 

The bloody confrontation occurred between last Friday night and Saturday morning.

The Brigade Commander in-charge of Chari Maigugeri Barracks in Lokoja, Maj.-Gen. Alphonsus Chukwu, told newsmen in Okene yesterday, that three SSS officials were also fatally wounded in the attack.

He said the SSS officials were now receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja.

Chukwu said that a combined team of soldiers, SSS and police tracked the suspects to their hideout in Okene last Thursday.

He said that the team decided to invade the hideout, an uncompleted building, late Friday night.

Chukwu said that the gunmen had informed some banks in writing of an impending attack on their branches, adding that as a result of this, security agents started trailing them. He said that some members of the sect escaped onto mountain tops in Okene from where they fired shots at the security officers.

Chukwu said that items recovered from the hideout included hand grenade, two pistols, Improvised Explosive Devices and five magazines of AK-47 painted in police colour and motorcycles.

He said that security agents would remain on the spot until all the suspects were routed out.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an Air Force helicopter was seen hovering around the town as at 4:30 p.m.

Chukwu said that the helicopter was to help in locating the suspects that fled onto mountain tops.

Meanwhile, Governor Idris Wada on Saturday afternoon visited the Federal Medical Centre where the injured SSS officials were receiving treatment.

As at the time of the visit, one of the injured was said to be in a critical condition.

The governor, however, asked the Medical Director, Dr Gbadebo Eleshin, to ensure that the victims were well attended to, adding that the state government would pay for their medical bills.

He commended the security agents for rising up to the challenge and assured the people of the state that the situation was under control. (NAN)