The Kogi Police Command has confirmed that four persons lost their lives, eight suspects while four AK-47 rifles were recovered during raid on the Ayingba residence of Sheikh Ibrahim, the Director-General of Social Democratic Party (SDP) Governorship Campaign early Tuesday morning.
However, Ibrahim was not among those who lost their lives in the raid, Kogi Police Commissioner, Mr Bethrand Onuoha, said in an interview in Lokoja on Tuesday.
He said four persons including a police officer, were killed during an exchange of gunshots at the residence of the SDP chieftain.
Onuoha explained: “Sheikh Ibrahim is not among the people killed during the gun duel between our operatives and political thugs who met in his residence this morning.
“This morning raid of the SDP D-G’s house was following privileged information, during which four persons lost their lives.
“We were able to arrest eight suspects and recovered four AK-47 rifles during the exercise.
“Among the suspects arrested are two security personnel, one of whom could not properly identify himself or tell who his commander is in Abuja, where he claimed to have come from.
“It’s very unfortunate that lives were lost to the raid, which was a normal routine operation of our security operatives.
“We will, as security operatives, continue to go after all criminals disturbing the peace of Kogi, even kidnappers. We won’t give them any breathing space at all,” he declared.
The police chief therefore called on residents to remain calm and be law abiding before, during and after the Nov. 11 governorship election in the state.
The Police Commissioner said those picked by the security operatives include the Director/Media Consultant MuriSam Campaign Council, Mr Isaiah Ijele.
(NAN)
