SAN FRANCISCO, October 27, (THEWILL) – The problem of security lapses on the Bayelsa State waterways came to the fore over the weekend as suspected sea pirates killed four policemen and abducted six others in the waterways.
THEWILL learnt that the police were on escort duty when they were attacked by the gun-wielding pirates who took away the gunboat they were travelling with around 1:30 pm on Friday.
Sources said the gunboat belonging to the Nigerian Police Force was the target of the pirates who ambushed the policemen who were escorting a barge belonging to Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).
THEWILL learnt that the pirates who operated on a speed boat had opened fire on the policemen, overpowered them and took control of the gunboat after pushing the dead policemen into the river.
“They were said to have overpowered the police, killed and pushed them into the water and took control of the gunboat,” our source said.
The criminal elements were not interested in the Agip barge and its occupants, a security source who pleaded anonymity said, adding that three policemen and the gunboat operator were killed after the gunmen hijacked the boat.
The source said that the gunboat driver was a civilian, adding that the bodies of the slain policemen had since been recovered.
“Policemen escorting Agip barge were attacked on Friday. The gunboat and the policemen were all taken away. The policemen were three, including the driver of the boat making them four. The barge and its occupants escaped, because the gunboat was the target of the pirates. This incident happened along Santa Barbara and Nembe route at about 1.30pm. The pirates were after the gunboat and the arms,” the source added.
The incident which occurred along Santa Barbara and Nembe waterways had caused panic among travelers.
The development was said to have delayed the movement of persons travelling to Okpoama in Brass Local Government Area, for the funeral of the uncle of a former governor of the state, Tmipre Sylva.
Most of the guests for the burial were said to have waited at Ogbia jetty till after the gunmen finished their operation .
In a separate incident, six persons working for a company identified as Icon Xearex, an oil servicing firm, have been abducted at Oluasiri in Nembe.
It was gathered that the pirates attacked a boat owned by the company in the early hours of Friday and took the workers away.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in state, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, said he was in Abuja for a programme and could not comment on the incident.
The State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Valentine Ntomchukwu, when reached for comment, claimed to be in a meeting.
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