About 48 hours after bandits attacked and killed two policemen in Asaba, the Delta State capital, the state government has reinforced restriction order on all operators of tricycles within Asaba and its environs.
A police inspector and two rank and files attached to the Delta State Police Command, State Headquarters, Asaba, were on Saturday night, April 13, 2019, attacked by suspected bandits in Asaba.
Two rifles were also reportedly carted away by the bandits during the attack on the policemen said to be on a stop and search duty in Asaba.
The victims were reportedly said to be on duty at Inter-bau Roundabout by ASCON Oil fuel station in Asaba metropolis, where they were macheted by the assailants.
Sources disclosed that the victims at the time of the attack sustained deep cuts from the hoodlums who allegedly disarmed two of the police officers.
The bandits reportedly attacked the cops after about 15 minutes the Police Patrol Van left with the driver and one of the officers leaving only three officers behind at the checkpoint.
It was gathered that the first victim just finished directing a driver making phone call in a parked vehicle to leave the vicinity to another area when about four of the suspected bandits attacked him with machete and made away with his riffle. And as he was being attacked,
another group also attacked Inspector Francis whose gun was also snatched.
The only lucky one of them was the Police Corporal who was said to have escaped with his own riffle but also suffered machete cuts in his hand.
Acting Police Public Relations officer (PPRO) of the command, Chuks Orisewezie, while confirming the incident, said, “I am aware that Police Officers were attacked at the roundabout but nobody died. I don’t know about their rifles, I will confirm that.”
Following the incident, the command renewed its restriction order on tricycle operators in Asaba and its environs to start from 10 pm every day.
Orisewezie, reiterating the government’s ban on all tricycle operators in Asaba and its environs, said the restriction ordered was renewed owing to the prevailing security situation in the state, and in a bid to serve the good people of the state well and to reduce crime to the barest minimum.
“Officers of the Command on patrol duties have been given a matching order to arrest and impound any Tricycle aka keke napep operator found operating within the streets of Asaba metropolis and its environs after 2200hrs (10pm).
“The Commissioner of Police solicits your understanding in this regards while assuring Deltans and the general public of his commitment to their safety and security at all times,” he stated.
