The killings, which took place days before the start of this year’s Argungu international fishing festival, have heightened tension in the area, according to residents.
The State Commissioner of Police, Benjamin Uche Onwuka, who confirmed the incident to Weekly Trust by phone, said one of the suspected gunmen has already been arrested by the police. “We have gotten one of the suspected hoodlums when our patrol team engaged them in a hot pursuit,” he said.
Onwuka said the case was that of a failed armed robbery attack on a homes’ savings bank where the policeman on guard was killed.
Witnesses said two gunmen came on a motorcycle and started shooting sporadically around the bank near Bakin Tasha, causing panic and confusion that forced residents scampering in different directions for safety.
“The two gunmen were not targeting the bank because one of our friends who was riding a motorcycle was also shot and the bullet hit him on the stomach. He is currently receiving treatment along with three others at the Argungu General Hospital,” said Yakubu Sani, who witnessed the shooting.
Another witness, Isah Abdullahi, said he saw the body of a police sergeant and one other victim at the scene of the incident as people ran for safety, adding that the third victim died on the way to the hospital. “I was so scared and confused when I saw the body of the policeman and another person with those wounded in the pool of their own blood,” Abdullahi said.
The Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Mohammed Mera, had last year told journalists that he had received calls and text messages from suspected Boko Haram members threatening that they will soon to visit his domain at an unspecified time.
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