Herdsmen in police uniform clash with police in Delta, Area Commander injured

ORHORHO—herdsmen, dressed in police
uniform, armed with AK-47 rifles and
other dangerous weapons, engaged a
team of policemen in a gun battle,
yesterday, in Delta State, leaving a number
of police officers, including an Area
Commander, injured, while some are
missing.
However, Delta State Police Commissioner,
Mr. Zanna Ibrahim, who spoke to
Vanguard on phone yesterday evening,
said: “There was no injury.
“What happened was that the policemen
were fatigued. They entered the terrain
they were not used to and some of them
collapsed out of fatigue.”
He said none was injured, but admitted
that the Area Commander, who led the
team and one other person were
exhausted.
Herdsmen attending to their cows
Vanguard learned that the police team,
including men of the Dragon, Quick
Response Squad, QRS and Ughelli Area
Command patrol team, led by the Area
Commander, Ughelli, had stormed Orhorho
community and surroundings in Ughelli
North Local Government Area of the state.
The move was due to incessant reports of
rape and attacks on villagers by herdsmen,
who were taking cover in the bush.
But as soon as the policemen arrived, the
herdsmen opened fire.
The police officers, numbering over 60, it
was gathered, had stormed the
community to enforce an ultimatum
issued the herdsmen to leave.
Though details of the incident were still
sketchy at press time, sources said the
head of the police team was among the
wounded in the gun battle.
A source, who craved anonymity, said
police officers were ambushed by the
herdsmen, who he said opened fire on
them, as they were approaching the
community.