BEVERLY HILLS, May 27, (THEWILL) – The Rivers state police command has declared five policemen missing after an ambush by gunmen, on Wednesday, at Okujagu waterways in Okrika local government area of the state.
Spokesman for the police command, Mr. Ahmad Muhammad, said in a statement that the policemen were on an official mission to the area when they unexpectedly came under gun attack.
He disclosed that six policemen, comprising two inspectors and four other officers initially got missing but one inspector, Aferuan Imoukhuede, was rescued a day after.
“The Rivers state police command has announced the missing of five policemen who along with other colleagues were ambushed in the early hours of Wednesday 25/05/2016 at the Okujagu community, Okrika local government area,” he said in a statement.
“The policemen went to Okujagu community on a routine police inquiry when they were ambushed by unknown gunmen before they could disembark from the boat that ferried them, they were bombarded with a barrage of heavy gunfire which forced them to scamper for cover.
“By the time the firing ended, six policemen comprising two inspectors and four other rank and file could not be accounted for but a day after Inspector Aferuan Imoukhuede, who was among the missing policemen, was rescued.
“Sting operations by the command are still on the top gear to rescue the remaining five missing policemen. Fifty-three suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident and are currently undergoing interrogation.”
He said the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Kimo, had set up a “high-powered” investigative panel headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Investigation Department, to unravel the circumstances surrounding the entire incident and announced the arrest of 53 suspects in connection with the disappearance of the policemen.
Story by David Oputah
