OIL thieves in the Owutu area of Ikorodu  in Lagos State caused pandemonium in the area recently when they overran the local police station killing two policemen and injuring several others in the process.

In what was a daring raid, associated with the Niger Delta and the northeast where Boko Haram holds sway, the armed bandits, numbering over 50, attacked using commercial vehicles and motorcycles. They were said to have overpowered the policemen, killing two of them in sporadic gunshots and then proceeded to  loot the station's armoury.

They had originally attacked the station to release some their arrested gang members but a battle ensued when they encountered resistance from the policemen. They mounted another attack yesterday and according to police spokesman Kenneth Nwosu, many of them who were shot escaped with bullet wounds.

A local source at Owutu police station added: “We did not expect what we saw as we fled the station but later reinforced and faced them fire for fire. I know we injured some of them as they escaped, so we will start combing the bushes and I know we will fish out some dead bodies.”

Residents described the clash between the police and the bunkers as war-like, adding that they could not close their eyes between Monday night and Tuesday morning. It is not yet clear how many of the oil thieves were killed in total.

Nigerianwatch