Day 2! Police, soldiers engage militants in gun duel

The face-off between militants, the police and soldiers at the Ewedogbon end of Totowu in the Igando, old Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State continued for the second day running but no lives were reportedly lost.

Sound of gunshots continued to rule the air as the gunmen suspected to be Niger Delta militants, continued to engage security forces in a shoot out.

Reports say the militants who launched an onslaught from the canal of the riverine community were temporarily subdued but they later re-launched an attack from the creeks moments after the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, who visited the scene of the shootout left.

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Reports say men of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of Lagos State Command, had to deploy two Armoured Personnel Carriers, APCs, and combat helicopter, on patrol to finally repel the gunmen from advancing.

According to an RRS official who pleaded anonymity, a distress call was put through to the police stating that the militants had regrouped.

“We received a distress call that the militants regrouped in an attempt to seize the community again.

“They were said to have engaged the joint military/police team stationed there in a gun battle.

“As I speak, (at about 6p.m. yesterday), the gun battle is still on, but report said the militants had started retreating into the creeks again.” The source said.

While commenting on the matter, the Police Public Relation Officer, SP Dolapo Badmus, informed that the visit of Commissioner of Police was aimed at getting first hand details about developments in the troubled community.

“Police have dominated the area. We are going to sustain that for a long time, while the Marine Police Command is stepping up its operations. We are not leaving anything to chance.” She said.

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