Gunmen have attacked the Police Area Command office at Eika-Ohizenyi in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The gunmen reportedly attacked the station with explosives in the early hours of Friday.

During the incident, a police inspector was killed while a section of the station was damaged.

The corpse of the slain officer, identified as Mr Jibril, has been taken to Obangede General hospital’s mortuary.

A statement by the Spokesperson of the Kogi Police Command, William Aya, noted that the Commissioner of Police in the State, Edward Egbuka, has visited the scene of the incident.

He said Egbuka has equally ordered the deployment of additional operational assets consisting of operatives of the Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit, Quick Response Unit, and State Intelligence Bureau in synergy with other security agencies to restore normalcy in the area.

“Meanwhile, part of the area command office was razed by dynamite used by the attackers. Sadly, a police inspector died in the exchange of fire with the hoodlums, before the area commander and a detachment of military in the area reinforced the scene of the incident and the attackers fled”, he said.

Aya assured that the command is committed to working in synergy with other security agencies as well as patriotic stakeholders to make the state a safe and secure place for all and sundry.

He said the Commissioner of Police has further tasked his Deputy in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to commence investigations into the unfortunate incident.

Meanwhile, Governor Yahaya Bello has directed the deployment of security personnel to the area.

A statement issued on Friday by Kingsley Fanwo, commissioner of information, said: “The executive governor of Kogi state has directed the office of the state security adviser to mobilize adequate security personnel and equipment to the affected area to ensure watertight security and restore confidence in the citizens as the state government implements an effective action plan to avert reoccurrence, while also working closely with the security chiefs in the state as well as the people in the affected area.

“We wish to appeal to residents of Okehi to cooperate with security agencies as necessary measures will be put in place to curb violent crimes in the area and also flush out the criminal elements bent on denting the security credentials of our dear state which is comparatively the safest in the country today.

“All the broadcast stations of the state have been directed to publicize the curfew for public enlightenment.”