The Osun State Police Command has blamed suspected hoodlums who allegedly snatched an AK-47 service rifle from its personnel for the killing of two civilians in Ikire on Monday.
The command, in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, and released in Osogbo on Tuesday, identified the victims as Nurení Sobowale, 49, of Odeda Area, Abeokuta, and Saheed Akinrole, 43, of Adeagbo Compound, Ikire.
The police also disclosed that two officers sustained serious injuries during the attack, while a patrol vehicle attached to the Ikire Division was forcefully taken by the assailants.
According to the command, the vehicle was later abandoned and recovered with multiple bullet holes and a damaged windscreen.
Nine spent ammunition shells were also recovered from the scene and secured for forensic analysis.
The remains of the two victims have been deposited at Oluyoro Catholic Mortuary, while their families have been informed. The injured officers, who initially received emergency treatment at a nearby hospital, were later referred to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, for further medical attention.
The police said the incident occurred around 11am on Monday along the Ibadan-Ife Expressway when unidentified assailants suspected to be political thugs attacked a police patrol team attached to the Ikire Division.
The patrol team, accompanied by the Divisional Police Officer, was responding to a distress call over the alleged abduction of a man identified as Sunkanmi, whose surname was unknown.
Upon arriving at the location, the officers reportedly came under sudden attack from the hoodlums, who opened fire on the police vehicle and succeeded in snatching an AK-47 service rifle.
The command said the assailants subsequently used the stolen rifle to fire indiscriminately, killing the two civilians.
The newly deployed Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, has visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.
The commissioner also directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
He further ordered the immediate deployment of tactical and intelligence assets to identify, track and arrest those responsible.
Condemning the attack on police personnel and the deaths of the civilians, the command urged residents to remain calm and vigilant.
It also appealed to anyone with credible information that could assist in apprehending the perpetrators to report to the nearest police station or contact the command.
The police assured residents that measures were being taken to restore and maintain security along the affected axis and across the state.