Newly-Posted Delta DPO Killed in Ambush by Suspected Kidnappers
AGBARHO/Nigeria: A newly-posted Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Agbarho, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, has been killed in an ambush by suspected kidnappers.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Monday, October 14, 2024, just two days after the officer assumed his position at the Agbarho Police Division. His name has been withheld pending notification of next of kin.
According to reliable sources, the ambush followed a distress call received by the DPO around 1:30 a.m., reporting a kidnapping incident near the Agbarho Railway Station. It was learned that a group of people had been abducted, with their vehicle stranded at the location. In a swift response, the DPO contacted his counterpart from the Orerokpe Division and mobilised a police team to the scene.
However, the officers were unaware that the kidnappers had set a deadly trap. As the police team approached, they were met with heavy gunfire. The newly-posted DPO was killed instantly in the attack, while the DPO from Orerokpe was critically injured. The wounded officer is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital, and his condition remains grave.
Several other policemen in the rescue team were reportedly killed during the ambush, although the exact number of casualties has yet to be confirmed. Authorities are working to ascertain the full extent of the losses suffered in the operation.
There are also unverified reports of casualties among the kidnappers’ gang, but specific details remain unclear at the time of this report.
This tragic incident underscores the persistent challenges facing law enforcement agencies in combating the rising wave of kidnappings in Delta State and across Nigeria. The increasing danger posed to security personnel highlights the urgent need for more comprehensive strategies to tackle the menace head-on.
