ISWAP claims responsibility for attack on Kogi police station

April 24, (THEWILL) – Terror group, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), has claimed responsibility for an attack on a police station in Kogi state.

THEWILL had reported at least three police officers killed on Saturday, when gunmen attacked a police facility in Ogaminana, a community in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Spokesperson of the State Police Command, William Ovye Aya, who confirmed the incident, had said the attackers stormed the station and engaged police on duty in a fierce gun battle.

“Early morning on Saturday, the Command received report of an unfortunate incident at Adavi Police Division, where some hoodlums attacked the station.

“They shot sporadically, but were repelled by our men and operatives of the Quick Response Unit, who were on special operations at Adavi Local Government Area.

“Unfortunately, the Command lost three of its officers to the gun duel, while the hoodlums fled with gunshot wounds as they could not get access into the station”, he said.

The State police boss, Edward Egbuka, had described the incident as a “surprise attack.”

According to Voice of America, ISWAP in a statement shared on Telegram, said “soldiers of the caliphate attacked a police station.”

The group added that five people were killed in the raid.

Meanwhile, ISWAP had also claimed responsibility for an explosion that killed six people in a market in Taraba on Tuesday.

Although Taraba is a north-eastern state, where ISWAP and Boko Haram have been active, the state has not been frequently targeted like Borno and Yobe.

If the attack on the Kogi police station was executed by the insurgents as claimed, which has not been recorded before, it could be a hint that ISWAP has expanded its activities in the northern region.