Tragedy struck at the Aqua Triton Company in the Ogunmakin area, near Ibadan, as unidentified gunmen launched a violent raid on the facility. The attack, which was described as a commando-style operation, resulted in the death of a police officer and the abduction of a Chinese expatriate.
According to a statement from the State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, and shared with Reports, the incident unfolded on Saturday when the armed group stormed the premises. The late police officer was part of a security detail that attempted to fight off the invaders. While the officer managed to injure some of the assailants during the shootout, he unfortunately lost his life in the line of duty.
In the chaos of the encounter, the gunmen succeeded in whisking away the company’s Chinese principal. Upon receiving the report, the State Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, immediately mobilized a massive response. He directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of operations to lead a combined team of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad and various tactical units to the area.
Currently, security forces have saturated the surrounding forest, and a massive bush-combing exercise is underway. The police have vowed to leave no stone unturned in their search for the kidnappers. The primary focus remains the safe rescue of the abducted expatriate and the eventual prosecution of those responsible for the officer’s death.
The police command has appealed to residents in the Ogunmakin area and nearby communities to stay alert and report any suspicious individuals, especially those with gunshot wounds, to the nearest station. A full-scale investigation into the motives behind the attack and the identity of the gang is already in progress.
