By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
The Osun State Police Command on Wednesday engaged unknown gunmen in a fierce gun battle at Osunjela, in Atakunsa West Local Government Area of the state, killing two of them.
The Conclave gathered that the gunmen had attacked the police tactical team while taking some murder suspects to Ilesa Correctional Centre.
According to the state Police Public Relations, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, the incident occurred when the conveyance vehicle developed mechanical fault at Osunjela River along Osogbo/Ilesa Road.
Opalola further explained that the hoodlums numbering about four came on a motorcycle and attacked the police team by firing sporadically in a bid to hijack the suspects.
She also revealed that in the wee hours of Thursday, while combing the bush, for possible arrest of the fleeing suspects, recovered the dead body of one of the attackers in the bush with bullets wounds.
While searching his body, Opalola said two live cartridges and a paper with incantation written in Yoruba Language with the names of the perpetrators were found in his pocket. His corpse has been evacuated and deposited in the morgue
She said: “At about 1530hrs (3:30pm), an Osun Police tactical team while taking some murder suspects to Ilesa correctional centre, after Osunjela ryiver along Osogbo/Ilesa Road, the conveyance vehicle developed mechanical fault.
“As the nearby mechanics were working on the vehicle, four (4) armed men emerged from Osunjela Road on a Bajaj Motorcycle and attacked the Police team by firing sporadically in a bid to hijack the suspects.
“However, with the superior fire-power of the police team, the hoodlums abandoned their motorcycle, three(3) locally made guns; one (1) pump action, two(2) cut to size barrel guns with fourteen(14) live cartridges.
“In the process, three (3) murder suspects sustained several degrees of injuries and later died at Asubiaro hospital in Osogbo and deposited in the same hospital morgue.
“The hoodlums fled into the bush with bullet wounds.
“Meanwhile, the police in collaboration with the local security outfits and the youths of the community are combing the bush for possible arrest of the fleeing suspects.
“The commissioner of Police, CP Olawale Olokode, enjoined members of the public, especially people of Osunjela area to avail the Command with information about any person(s) with suspected bullet wounds.
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