Gunmen kill five policemen in Rivers

Unidentified gunmen have killed five policemen including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr. Nasiru Halidu in Okobe town of Ahoada West Local Government Council of Rivers State.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) party in the state has bemoaned what it described as the needless killing of innocent people, policemen and members of the security agencies without consequences.

Explaining the circumstances, the State Police Public Relations, Mr. Ahmad Muhammad, said the slain policemen were travelling to 30 PMF (Police Mobile Force) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, at the end of their special mission in Yobe, when they were ambushed by the gunmen at about 3a.m. yesterday.

A security source told The Guardian that the gunmen shot sporadically at the van conveying the policemen, killing the five policemen. It was also gathered that during he intense shooting, bullet struck a conductor attached to a tanker driver.

“One of my course mate, a DSP; his name is Nasiru Halidu, was among those ambushed and killed by the hoodlums. He was among the police officers and men who went on a special duty in Yobe State. They were going back to Yenagoa after ending their special assignment. It was at Okobe in Ahoada West, along the East-West Road, that the incident happened,” he said.

Police Public Relations Muhammad dismissed speculations that they (policemen) were killed during a shoot out between two rival gangs in Okobe.

“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 Okobie enroute Yenagoa. Today’s tragedy again demonstrated the enormous calamities we face 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 dastardly act of justice,” he said.

APC spokesperson, Chris Finebone maintained that as long as Nyesom Wike is governor of Rivers State and the Inspector General of Police, are still in office, the lives of innocent Rivers people, policemen and members of other security agencies will continue to be needlessly dispensed with without consequences.

“Let discerning Nigerians read carefully through this statement that they may understand why the killings in Rivers State has been described as non-political and the police hierarchy openly endorse such naked lies. Unfortunately, ordinary policemen, their families and innocent people continue to be pawns on the high-wire collaboration game board of the police hierarchy and the Rivers State Government,” he said.