The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Patrick Ukah , has described the attack on Okpanam Vigilante group and Okpanam Police Division as a dastardly act with an assurance that the state government will bring the perpetrators to book.
Chief Ukah stated this when he visited the Okpanam police station for an on-the spot assessment of the damage caused during the attack.
He expressed dismay that some persons, for no just reason, could attack the existing peace in the community, saying it was painful, unexpected and an act of wickedness.
The SSG said the attack was unacceptable in the state and assured that government would do everything possible to assure that the culprits were brought to book.
The SSG later visited the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Asaba, where he was received by the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Victor Ossiatuma, who took him to see an injured vigilante member at the emergency unit of the FMC.
He sympathized with the victim, Mr. Ekene Okonji, who was responding to treatment as a result of injuries sustained during the attack, promising to offset the hospital bills.
Speaking in an interview, the Chairman of the Okpanam vigilante, Mr. Emeka Okolie, disclosed that five members of the vigilante who were on duty on Sunday morning were attacked at 4.35am by some persons which prompted them to put a distress call to the police informing them of the attack.
He said three of his men sustained injuries but two had been discharged while the remaining two were unhurt.
Earlier, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the station, Chief Superintendent of Police Gambo Ado, conducted the SSG round the premises of the station explaining how the attack was carried out.
Mr. Ado said the attack took place at the gate of the station while the police officers were driving out in response to the distress call.
It would be recalled that Okpanam police station was attack at the early hours of Sunday.
