PORT HARCOURT – No fewer than five policemen were, Monday
morning, killed during a gun battle with suspected cultists in Okobe
community, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
A civilian reported to be a bus conductor was also among the
persons killed in the alleged ambush. Vanguard gathered that the police
officers were intercepted by the unidentified hoodlums on the Okobe axis
of the East-West road and there was heavy exchange of firearm.
A community source who related the development to Vanguard said the
police officers were overpowered during the gun duel because they were
caught unawares. The source who spoke on condition of anonymity
disclosed that hoodlums were on the prowl in the area, adding that
police had visited in respect of that.
The source noted that the policemen were trailing criminals in the
area before they were ambushed and killed. He added that no casualt was
recorded on the side of the hoodlums, revealing that the only civilian
that died in the incident was the conductor of the bus which the police
officers had used in disguise during the operation.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has described the
killing of the policemen as senseless and barbaric. Confirming the
development, the Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Ahmad
Muhammad said the officers were en route Bayelsa State before they were
ambushed by hoodlums. Muhammad who could not firm the number of police
officers involved noted that the victims were officers attached to 30
Police Mobile Force in Bayelsa State.
“We are deeply pained by the senseless and barbaric killing of our
colleagues attached to 30 PMF Yenagoa, who were ambushed in the early
hours of today at Okobe en route Yenagoa.
“Today’s tragedy again demonstrates the enormous calamities we and
witness in the course of our job. We put their lives on the line every
day to confront crime and violence in our communities. We will stop at
nothing to bring the perpetrators of this dastard act to justice.”
Source: VANGUARD
0 comments:
Post a Comment