The police command in Osun says three murder suspects were killed during a gun duel between its operatives and gunmen who had attacked the police vehicle conveying the suspects.
According to the police, the gunmen attacked the police vehicle, on Wednesday, along Osogbo-Ilesa road after the Osunjela River.
The police said the vehicle was taking murder suspects to Ilesa correctional centre, when it developed a mechanical fault.
During the repair of the vehicle, the police said four gunmen in motorcycles attacked the officers in what appears to be an attempt to rescue the murder suspects.
The attack led to a gun duel between the police and the gunmen which resulted in the death of three of the suspects.
“Today 25/08/2021 at about 1530hrs (3:30pm), an Osun Police tactical team while taking some murder suspects to Ilesa correctional centre, after Osunjela river along Osogbo/Ilesa Road, the conveyance vehicle developed mechanical fault,” Opalola Yemisi, police spokesperson, said in a statement.
“As the nearby mechanics were working on the vehicle, four (4) armed men emerged from Osunjela road on a Bajaj Motorcycle and attacked the Police team by firing sporadically in a bid to hijack suspects.
“However, with the superior fire-power of the police team, the hoodlums abandoned their motorcycle, three (3) locally made guns; one (1) pump action, two(2) cut to size barrel guns with fourteen(14) live cartridges.”