Two policemen shot dead by gunmen

Martinstopgist "News At Your Fingertips"

Gunmen, suspected to be sea pirates, have murdered two policemen and an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Bayelsa State.

The incident reportedly occurred on Friday night on the Ekebiri waterways of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

The sea pirates, it was learnt, hid in Ekebiri creek and opened fire on sighting the patrol team of the security officers. The victims, who were said to be members of an anti-vandals’ team, were reportedly on routine patrol when the gunmen attacked them and took their rifles. The bodies of the victims were later recovered by divers.

The deceased NSCDC personnel, identified as Sango Potipher, was said to be an indigene of Okpotuari community in Southern Ijaw.

Sources said the security operatives were patrolling the Tebidaba Flow Station when they came under the surprise attack about 7pm.

A top security source from the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “While on patrol at Tebidaba area in Southern Ijaw, the combined security team was attacked.

“There was a gun battle between the security operatives and the gunmen. But an official of the NSCDC was killed alongside two policemen. The rifles of the victims were carted away by the hoodlums.’’

The source also said that some other security operatives sustained injuries during the attack.

Another security source, who also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said when the news broke at 9pm, they quickly dispatched security surveillance to the area.

He stated, “The news got to us at about 9pm. When we dispatched our security surveillance team to the area, we saw a military gunboat with some NSCDC personnel that escaped the attack.

“They recovered the corpses of the killed security personnel without their rifles. The gunmen took their guns.”

When contacted, the Bayelsa State Commandant, NSCDC, Mr Desmond Agu, confirmed the incident.

Agu said investigations were ongoing to arrest the perpetrators of the act.

Confirming the incident, the spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, said one policeman, one NSCDC operative and one civilian were shot dead by the sea pirates.

He also said that one policeman was still missing after the attack.

He added that the command had deployed a search party to find the missing policeman.