The fragile peace in Warri, the commercial hub of Delta State, snapped again this morning when gunmen killed two warders attached to Warri Federal Prisons, in a deadly operation,which caused fresh panic in the city.

Three other warders sustained serious gunshot injuries in the encounter  and  are  on danger list at a medical center in the city. One of the inmates of the prison, who was among the suspects being taken to the court, was also killed in the gun duel which  lasted for over thirty minutes.

An official of Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, Effurun, the headquarters of Uvwie Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Julius Ogungbemi, was killed by stray bullets during the exchange of gunshots  between the fleeing hoodlums and the security agents.

Ogungbemi was killed at Effurun Roundabout as the secuity agents chased the hoodlums to the area.

Galaxy Tv News gathered  that hell was let loose when the gunmen ambushed a prison vehicle conveying nine suspected kidnappers to nearby Warri High Court located in the Government Reservation Area, GRA, axis of the city, for the commencement of their trial.

 It was gathered  that the gunmen, who probably got a wind of the movement, ambushed the team at Esisi Road, few meters  away from the prison yard along Okere Road, in desperation to free the suspects.

 Residents  who  refused  to  speak on camera  stated  that the hoodlums shattered  the prison team with heavy gun fires, shortly after Esisi Bridge.

 To this end, the hoodlums overpowered five warders attached to the team. The warders fell to the superior fire powers of the bandits as they were effortlessly disarmed and their service rifles taken away by the hoodlums.

 Five of the nine high profile suspects were rescued and taken away by the hoodlums, who fled the scene when it was suspected the police from nearby Delta South Area Command, were mobilizing  to the scene.

Three of the in-mates heading for court,  were re-arrested while one of them died in the gun battle.

Ogungbemi was sent to an untimely grave when a combined team of security agencies made futile attempt to intercept the fleeing hoodlums at Effurun Roundabout.

The tragic end of Ogungbemi, who until yesterday, worked in the Mechanical Engineering Department, threw the nation's pioneer petroleum training institute into mourning. His colleagues wore long faces as they discussed his fate in groups.

Most of the bereaved workers bemoaned the state of  insecurity in the state and the apparent helplessness of the authorities to keep the criminals at bay and arrest the ugly trend.

 Many business premises were hurriedly shut while residents and passers-by scampered into safety while the tension lasted.

Commissioner of Police Delta  State Command, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, confirmed the report in a telephone interview with our correspondent  and  described the incident as "unfortunate."

Aduba  said two of the vehicles used by the hoodlums have been recovered by the police"with blood stains"at Isiokolo, the headquarters of Ethiope East Local Area of the state.

The CP assured that the fleeing bandits would be apprehended and pleaded for useful information from members of the public to enable his command to achieve the feat.