By BIDEMI BELLO

Three persons including one Police Inspector and two bandits were killed during a shootout between the police and bandits in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The Ogun State police command on Wednesday said its operatives gunned down the two suspected bandits in a fierce fire fight at Saala Orile forest, Yewa North Local Government Area of the state where the bandits were attacking some herders.

Police spokesperson in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi in a statement released in Abeokuta, the state capital, said the bandits were gunned down following a distress call received by policemen attached to Ayetoro division, that a group of bandits were attacking some Fulani herdsmen at Isaala Orile forest.

“Upon the distress call, the Divisional police officer, Ayetoro, Chief Superintendent of Police, Bernard Ediogboyan, quickly led his men and operatives of Joint security Intervention squad to the scene.

“On sighting the policemen, the bandits opened fire on them and the policemen replied fire for fire,” Oyeyemi explained in his statement released in Abeokuta, the state capital.

He disclosed that at the end of the gun duel which lasted for about twenty minutes, two of the bandits were shot dead while others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.

“Regrettably, an inspector of police, by name Omolayo Olajide lost his life during the gun duel,” the police spokesperson added.

Items recovered from the bandits include three locally made guns, 16 live cartridges, assorted charms, one cutlass, one small phone, and one unregistered Bajaj motorcycle.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, who expressed sadness over the death of the police officer while fighting the bandits had directed that the escaped members of the gang must be hunted for and brought to justice

The CP also condoled with the family of the late inspector and assured them that his death will not be in vain. (Text, excluding headline, courtesy Channels TV)

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