Police in Kogi State have confirmed the death of three persons, including a Police Inspector, in a mob attack in Yagba-West Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.
This followed separate robbery attacks on three banks in Odo-Ere and Egbe communities in the council area.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Kogi State Command, Williams Aya, said in a statement issued in Lokoja on Thursday that the police arrested two robbery suspects during a joint manhunt with hunters and vigilantes.
“The two suspects were taken to Odo-Ere Police Station. An irate mob from the community went to the station demanding that the two suspects be released to them for lynching.
“All efforts by the police to placate the mob proved abortive; it became violent and in the process (the mob) lynched one Insp. Bamisaye Gbenga and injured PC Sunday Alechenu.”
It stated that in an effort to disperse the mob, a male and a female were maimed and both died in the hospital while receiving treatment.
Part of the police station was set ablaze by the angry mob.
The statement quoted the Commissioner of Police in Kogi, Idris Babban, as condemning the incident, and also urging members of the public to refrain from taking laws into their hands.
(NAN).
