Ondo State Police say gunmen who attacked the construction company in Owo, Ondo State on Wednesday night used explosives to destroy one of the earthmoving machines at the site.
Funmilayo Odunlami, the police spokesman in the state, said in a statement that the command has launched investigations to unravel those responsible for the attack.
Gunmen attacked the Craneburg Construction Company in the old town, wounding two security men, according to Adetunji Adeleye, commander of the Amotekun corps in Ondo state.
Oyeyemi Oyediran, the police commissioner in the state, led a team of officers from the Explosives Ordinance Department (EOD) – Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High Yield Explosives (CBRNE), also known as the Bomb Squad, to the scene. on Thursday, according to the police statement.
The release says the incident occurred around 10:00 pm on July 27 and officers covering the jurisdiction responded immediately.
“At the scene, officers encountered the duo of Rifum Lawrence, 50, and Abraham Opara, 45, with gunshot wounds,” Ms Odunlami said.
“They were immediately taken to the Federal Medical Center in Owo where they were admitted and are currently in stable condition.
“The Bomb Squad confirmed that an Improvised Explosive Device was used to blow out a tractor tire at the crime scene.”
She said the police commissioner called for calm and encouraged well-meaning residents of Ondo State to cooperate with police during investigations.
“The Command urges the people of the state to remain calm as the affected area has been cordoned off and the investigation has begun to unravel the mystery behind the incident,” he said.
“Similarly, the command is using this medium to warn those who don’t know the real situation of things not to cause unnecessary panic within the state by selling unconfirmed stories related to the incident.”
Ondo State Amotekun Commander, State Security Team Adetunji Adeleye had previously visited the site for an inspection.
He said gunmen fired sporadically into the air, damaging the windshields of two bulldozers at the site.
“I just left the scene and realized that the two security men were injured when the attackers fired into the air,” he said.
“They damaged the windshields of two construction company excavators. The injured have been taken to a hospital.”
Owo was in the news on June 5 when gunmen attacked St. Francis Catholic Church leaving 41 dead and several injured.
A similar attack on a police division in Akure occurred on Monday, resulting in the death of a police officer.