Details have emerged how three policemen detailed to protect fun seekers at Ogba Zoo and Nature Park, Benin, Edo State, were killed by five armed men.
Arms and ammunition belonging to the policemen were taken away. The Executive Director of the zoo, Dr. Andy Ehanire, was kidnapped.
Andy is brother to Minister of State for Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire.
Eyewitnesses and workers at the zoo described the incident as horrible.
They said the policemen attempted to flee, but the attackers shot them.
The Nation learnt that the attackers entered the zoo as fun seekers at different times, bought drinks and chatted with the policemen, while one of them discussed with Dr. Ehanire.
It was gathered that fun seekers fled through the fence.
When our reporter visited the zoo, bloodstains of the policemen were being washed.
A worker, Helen Juchei, said the assailants bought drinks for the policemen before the attack.
She said one of them acted as an informant.
Her words: “Yesterday after I finished my duty in the morning, people were entering the zoo. At that time, my boss had not come. We usually resume before our boss. When he eventually came about 1p.m., I told him that I wanted to attend a birthday party. He permitted me and I left for the bash, hoping to come back and assume duty later.
“When I returned about 6p.m., I met three policemen dead on ground. I was shocked. People were running for safety. My boss was abducted.
“Those we met on the scene told us what happened. They said the kidnappers paid to enter the zoo with a torn currency, which was rejected by the casher.
“When the money was rejected, the gunman went back to get a better note to pay entrance fee.
“At that time, their informants had gained entry into the zoo as fun seekers.
“When the informants had studied the situation, one of them chatted with our director.
“Our boss told him he planned to organise a world tourism day. As one of them engaged my boss in a conversation, the other went to the security personnel and asked him if they had not closed for the day. He then bought drinks for the security guards.
“When they started drinking, the hoodlums opened fire on them and killed three police officers.
“We don’t know the whereabouts of our boss.”
Another worker, Mr. Zontondji Emmanuel, said the hoodlums shot the police officers.
” I was on duty. I resumed at 5:30p.m. and as I came in, I went round to inspect the animals and visitors. Having done that, I came back to the reception where the executive director was sitting. Another person was sitting at this end. Two policemen sat by him. So I went outside to observe things.
“I saw an Audi 80 car parking. Suddenly, I saw three men coming out of the car with guns. One of them wore a bullet proof vest. I thought they were policemen who always came here for security.
“Suddenly, I saw them running into the zoo, which was very unusual. When they entered, they started shooting. All of us outside ran for our lives.
“I called the people running to give us police numbers, nobody was ready to stop because they were afraid.
“I watched from afar and saw the men taking my director away. They went into the Audi car and drove off. I saw the three policemen, who were supposed to guard the director, lying dead on the floor.
“Later the DPO came to take the bodies away. Everything happened about 5:40p.m.,” he said.
At the home of Dr. Ehanire, his family and relations were shocked.
They refused to speak, noting that what they needed was prayer for the deceased and release of Ehanire.
Police Commissioner Mr. Haliru Gwandu, who visited the zoo, said the killers were militants.
He said they would soon be arrested.
“It was an unfortunate incident. We lost three of our men. The killers are militants.
“We are on trail of the hoodlums. We have recovered the vehicles they used to perpetrate the act. We are using available means, including high tech, to fish out the perpetrators.
“They cannot go scot free. Let me assure the public that we are on top of the situation. They should go about their activities. All hands are on deck to ensure the hoodlums are nabbed,” Gwandu said.
