An unspecified number of suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Friday night attacked the Lokoja, Kogi State headquarters of the Department of State Security Services (DSS).
The insurgents, according to a reliable source, attacked the facility, close to a number of government offices, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Customs and NIPOST headquarters, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) office and the Federal High Court, the Kogi State House of Assembly complex, around 9pm.
The attack was, however, repelled by the combined efforts of the DSS operatives and soldiers from the nearby military formation in the area, at the end of which three of the suspected insurgents were killed, while unconfirmed reports had it that two others were arrested.
A mobile police man also lost his life.
It was gathered that the heavily armed Boko Haram members engaged the security operatives in fierce exchange of fire power lasting several hours.
A source told our correspondent that officers from the nearby Zone 8 police barracks were sighted evacuating their families even while the gun duel lasted.
It was gathered that the combined efforts of a police team and the army later overpowered the insurgents who fled into the surrounding bushes, while some escaped through the Meme River.
The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, who confirmed the incident said detectives have been deployed to the area, and were on the trail of the fleeing terrorists.
“The gunmen numbering about 40 at about 10pm (Friday) launched attack on the DSS headquarters at Hassan Katsina Road, Lokoja.
“Before the attack they shot and hijacked one heavy duty trailer to block the road. At the end of the day, three of them were killed, while the rest fled”, the CP was quoted as saying.
Our correspondent who visited the Kogi State Police Command headquarters around 9am yesterday met the place near desolate.
One of the three policemen seen around the premises said that the CP just left the premises, along with a (police) cameraman.
He said that they took pictures of “some bodies” which they later took away in a vehicle.
Source thenationonline
