Suspected gunmen on Tuesday attacked the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Passport Office in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, injuring two officers and carting away a rifle, ammunition and other valuables.
The attack occurred at night when about five assailants reportedly scaled the rear perimeter fence of the facility, which borders a vast bushland, before attacking officers on duty.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Wednesday, the spokesperson of the Oyo State Police Command, Ayanlade Olayinka, said the officer in charge of the passport office raised an alarm at about 8:45 p.m. after the armed men invaded the premises.
According to him, police operatives, including personnel from the Command Monitoring Unit and surveillance teams, were immediately deployed to the scene following the distress call.
He said preliminary investigations revealed that the attackers assaulted two immigration officers on night duty with sticks and other dangerous weapons before making away with a G3 rifle assigned to the office and its ammunition.
“The suspects also carted away a mobile phone belonging to one of the officers on duty, a generating set and a motorcycle battery before escaping through the same route used to gain access to the facility,” Olayinka said.
He disclosed that the injured officers had received medical attention and were in stable condition.
Olayinka added that surveillance and tactical teams had intensified operations in and around the area, including combing adjoining bushes and possible escape routes, to apprehend the perpetrators and recover the stolen items.
“Intelligence assets and informants have been activated to generate actionable information capable of leading to the arrest of the suspects, while all relevant investigative and operational resources have been deployed to ensure a swift breakthrough in the case,” he said.
The police spokesperson said the command is working with the NIS and other security agencies to ensure the arrest of those responsible for the attack.
He added that the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Abimbola Olugbenga, had directed all operational and intelligence units to deploy every available resource towards apprehending the attackers.
Olayinka also said the police chief and the NIS state comptroller had constituted a joint task team to strengthen coordination and enhance efforts aimed at tracking down those involved in the attack.
He said the commissioner reassured residents of Ogbomoso and its environs of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and preventing criminal elements from gaining a foothold in the state.
The command urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest police formation, assuring that information provided would be treated confidentially.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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