Police Inspector Gunned Down, 2 Bandits Killed During Exchange Of Gunfire Inside Forest

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A Police Inspector, Omolayo Olajide, has lost his life during a gun battle with bandits, who also lost two of their gang members in Ogun State.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Saala Orile forest, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, expressed sadness over the death of the Police officer while condoling his family.

Police had engaged the bandits, who were said to have stormed the forest to attack some Fulani herdsmen.
The Ogun Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said Policemen attached to Ayetoro Division had received a distress call “that a group of bandits were attacking some Fulani herdsmen at Saala Orile forest”. 

Upon the distress call, Oyeyemi disclosed that the DPO of Ayetoro, CSP Bernard Ediogboyan, immediately led his men and operatives of the Joint Security Intervention Squad (JSIS) to the scene.
“On sighting the Policemen, the bandits opened fire on them and the operatives returned ‘fire-for-fire’.
“At the end of the encounter, which lasted for about twenty minutes, two amongst the bandits were shot dead while others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot injuries. Regrettably, a Police Inspector, by name Omolayo Olajide, lost his life during the gun duel,” Oyeyemi explained.

He listed some of the items recovered from the bandits to include three locally-made guns, 16 live cartridges, assorted charms, one cutlass, one small phone and an unregistered Bajaj motorcycle.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police has directed that the escaped members of the gang be hunted and brought to justice.

He also assured the family of the late inspector that “his death will not be in vain”.