It was a torrent of tears and wailing in Okene, Kogi State when one of the policemen shot and killed by dare-devil armed robbers in Otukpo, Benue State was laid to rest on Monday evening.

Female Inspector Adija Bello was caught by the robbers’ bullets when they attacked the Divisional Police Station in Otukpo as they simultaneously robbed five banks in the area last Friday.

Benue Police Command confirmed four of their officers, including the Divisional Police Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), John Adikwu, dead in the attack.

The corpse arrived Okene around 7pm on Monday after which it was taken to the cemetery for interment amid tears and sadness that enveloped the short burial ceremony.

Eyewitnesses said Inspector Adija Bello, who was on afternoon duty on the fateful day did not have any idea of what fate awaited her in the office as she prepared to leave home for official duties.

She was said to have taken her two daughters – Mejidat Abdulganiyu,7, and Faiza Abdulganiyu,2, to the home of one of her neighbours for safe keeping with the hope of picking them up on return from work.

This was however not to be as she fell and passed away following the gun attack by the criminals.

The husband of the deceased, Mr Abdulganiyu Omeiza, who is also a police officer attached to the Police Mobile Force (PMF) 54, Onitsha, Anambra State, lamented the gruesome murder of his wife while on official duty.

He said his wife was everything to him and he would miss her dearly.

He said the wife spoke to him on phone shortly before her untimely death in the hands of the robbers.

Omeiza, who spoke on phone, said: “She was everything to me. I really miss her every day. Everyday before she goes to work or take the kids to school, I will call her to know how they are doing.

“Even on that fateful day we spoke a night before and I told her I will be on night duty. From that night duty once I closed, I normally call her by 7am.

“But I woke up by 8.00am and I called her. She said she did not want to disturb me because she knew since I was on night duty I would not be able to call them early.

“So on that very day, around a few minutes to 3pm, she called me. We talked but I did not know that would be the last time I would speak with my wife,” he added.

A close friend to the deceased, Emma Yambasu, described her as a selfless personality who went out of her way often to make others happy.

“She was a very good person, she had a heart of gold, she was so selfless and always put others before herself. There is nobody that don’t know her in Otukpo because of her kindness and friendly disposition.

“I don’t know why they would do this. It’s not like they tried to stop them,” she said amid tears. (The Nation)

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