Three gunmen attacked Royal Garden Relaxation Spot in Egume, Dekina Local Government of Kogi on Friday, killing one person and injuring many others, the police said on Saturday.
Accordding to state police command, the armed men shot sporadically into the premises of the relaxation spot at about 7:45 pm on Friday.
A statement by the command spokesman, DSP William Aya said that the attackers later fled the scene.
The statement did not disclose whether the armed men robbed their victims, but said the Divisional Police Officer in Dekina mobilized operatives to the scene immediately after learning about the incident.
“He met one yet to be identified body lying in pool of his blood and moved him to a nearby hospital where he was confirmed dead.
“The body was deposited at the hospital for autopsy,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ayuba Ekpeji has deployed a team of operatives to hunt for the hoodlums.
He assured that the police will arrest the attackers and prosecute them.
The commissioner advised members of the public to be observant and report suspicious movements or objects around them, as well as activities of criminal elements within their neighbourhoods, to security agencies.
The hotel manager’s one and half year old son, a brother of late Anthony Monday and one lady were among those abducted by the assailants.
According eyewitness account, a cashew dealer from Ate-Iji Anyigba, Anthony Monday, was shot dead and three others, including hotel manager’s one and half year old son, were abducted.
Before the arrival of policemen at the scene of the incident, (Royal hotel), the sources said the kidnappers had left the hotel with the victims living late Anthony Monday in his pool of blood.
Barely 12 hours of the incident, it was gathered that the kidnappers started demanding for ransom as the toddler who was kidnapped along with them was allegedly giving them tough time and sleepless nights with continuous crying.
In his reaction, the national President of Egume Ome Descendants Union, (EODU), Alhaji Muhammed Lawal Ibrahim expressed shock over the ugly incident and appealed to policemen to ensure that perpetrators are apprehended and punished accordingly to serve as deterrent to others.
Ibrahim therefore enjoined the people of Egume to remain calm and go about their normal businesses as efforts are being put in place by the law enforcement agents to protect lives and property in the community.
