By LUKA BINNIYAT
KADUNA—There was pandemonium yesterday in densely populated Rigasa suburb of Kaduna metropolis as gunmen wearing Babanriga on a motor bike, opened fire on two policemen, who later died after some hospitals rejected treating them of wounds.

The armed men, who are believed to be members of the outlawed Islamic sect, Boko Haram, struck around 9pm on Monday, carted away the guns of the victims and escaped into town.

According information made available to Vanguard by the immediate past Commissioner of Police for Kaduna State, Tambari Yabo Mohammed, had said that Boko Haram, had a cell in Rigasa, and that they had planned attacking the Rigasa Police post. He had said the police got a tip-off and warded off the attack.

The two policemen murdered by the gunmen were guarding the home of the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Magajin Gari Police Station,  DSP Mustapha Sandamu in Rigasa. Speaking on the incident, Sandamu said he had gone to buy food for the two policemen standing guard in his house.

According to him, it was when he was returning with the food that he heard the gun shots. “When I heard the loud explosive burst of gunfire, I thought the sound was from the high tension wire or a nearby transformer that exploded.

“But soon, there was pandemonium around me, and I was told that  some men with machine guns were engaging my boys in sporadic shooting outside my house.

“They came on a motorcycle wearing Babanriga, stopped and opened fire on the unsuspecting police men,” he explained. He said the two policemen were seriously wounded after the exchange of fire.

“The two police corporals were rushed to Barau Dikko Hospital where they were rejected,” he claimed. They were then referred to 44 Army Reference hospital in Kaduna.

“They were again rejected there too and referred to Saint Gerald or Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, ABUTH, Shika, about 60 kilometres from Kaduna.

“They finally died at Saint Gerrald Hospital around 12 midnight. The killers left bullet holes on the walls of my house. They also perforated my furniture and my Honda car parked outside,” he added.

He could not give the names of the slain officers, saying they were posted there for the first time. He said: “The two of them are corporals and I cannot know their names since I have so many of them working under me.

,” Our job is to protect lives and property of our citizens while our own live is only protected by God”, he said.
“I want you to note that I am speaking in my capacity as a victim in this incident. The official response should come from the spokesperson of the police or the Commissioner of Police himself,” he said.

When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, ASP Aminu Lawal, confirmed the incident. He said the fallen officers had returned fire after the suspected  Jihadist first shot at them.

“But we remained optimistic that the suspects will bet hunted, caught and brought to book,” he said. The PPRO, however, debunked the rumour that the gunmen were Boko Haram members, stressing that “even though they operated in Boko Harran style, they are not Boko Harram members. They are bandits.

“The policemen returned fire and we believed they escaped with some gunshot  wounds.”