By Emma Amaize
WARRI- A Divisional Police Officer, DPO, was ambushed and shot dead by a gang of armed bandits, at Obiaruku, headquarters of Ukwuani Local Government Area in Delta State, while responding to a trouble call.

Two other policemen who accompanied him were injured by the robbers and were said to be hospitalized at the time of this report.

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Delta State Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr. Charles Muka confirmed the killing of the DPO when contacted yesterday by Vanguard, but said the details were still imprecise.

He, however, confirmed that the DPO received a distress call from somebody over a robbery attack and in his usual mien, he led his men to the scene of the operation to rescue the victims, but, unknown to him, the robbers suspected that one of the victims might have called the police, and laid ambush.

His words, “He is a very gallant officer, we all know him to be a fearless and hardworking police officer, always ready to save the lives of others,  no matter the risk involved. That is why he personally led the rescue operation, it is his style and we all know him for that, but, look at what had just happened, it is an irreparable loss to the Nigeria Police Force”.

It was gathered that the DPP ran into the ambush and was shot dead by the bandits, who gave him no chance of survival. Two other policemen were injured.

The entire area was thrown into pandemonium when it was found out that the person shot dead was the DPO for the area, but the robbers reportedly escaped after the bloody exchange.

A police officer told Vanguard, “We received the news of the death of the DPO on Saturday night through our communication system, the entire Delta State Police Command was thrown into a rude shock, the DPO was a very dutiful officer, who leads by example. He would never send his boys to an assignment he would not go himself”.