Following the death of a police sergeant during an attack on a police division in Dengi in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State, ViewPointNigeria learnt that some policemen who were on duty at the time have been detained.

They are being detained at the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the command headquarters in the state, while the divisional police officer and divisional crime officer of the station have been transferred.

The spokesperson for the command, Mr. Tyopev Terna, an assistant superintendent of police, told our correspondent that the men claimed to have gone to eat during the attack which took place around 2am on Monday.

Terna also identified the deceased policeman, as Sergeant Zunpan Donatus. He was reportedly on night guard duty during the attack.

On Monday,the Commissioner of Police, Mr.  Peter Ogunyanwo, visited the station and promptly ordered the arrest of Donatus’ colleagues.

ViewPointNigeria learnt that after Donatus was shot by the gunmen, they took his AK47 rifle and proceeded to break into the station’s armoury and stole seven rifles.

“Seven suspects in the cell of the station were also freed. We have rearrested five while two are still at large. The two at large are Usman Idris and the other Shamsu Saidu. They were suspects detained over theft,” Terna said.

According to him, investigation is still ongoing to determine if the suspects still at large have any connection with the attackers.

Terna said, “We are going to interrogate the policemen and look at the connection of the suspects too. We want to know whether the policemen have anything to do with the attack. We are investigating their claim that they went to eat.

“We are doubling security in stations across the metropolis and especially in the suburbs to ensure that there is no recurrence. We know very well that some officers are not supervising their men well.

“The commissioner of police will be visiting divisions at random to be sure that even at night, officers are supervising their men. You cannot just post people on duty and assume that they would be there. We have also increased men on guard at night across divisions.”

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Policeman killed and armoury raided in attack on police station in central Plateau