Police Confirm Death Of Seven Officers, Two Gunmen In Fresh Rivers Attacks
The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the death of seven of its operatives by gunmen who attacked police stations in Elimgbu, Obio/Akpor, and Rumuji, Emuoha Local Government Areas of the state respectively on Friday night.
The gunmen also lost two of their men after brave policemen engaged them in a shootout and prevented the daredevil men from gaining access to one of the police stations attacked.
The State Commissioner of Police, Eboka Friday, confirmed the attacks and killings in a statement signed by the Command’s spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni, and made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
The statement reads, “The Rivers State Police Command can confirm the unprovoked and mindless attack on policemen and vehicles.
“The incident which led to the death of seven policemen occurred last night about 2030hrs, where unknown gunmen driven in two branded Hilux vans, attacked the special checkpoint at Choba bridge (near Port Harcourt), killed two policemen on duty and set ablaze a car belonging to one of the policemen.
“A similar attack was launched at Rumuji Police Station (Emuoha LGA) by the same hoodlums who killed two Policemen on duty and burnt a police patrol vehicle.
“However, a stiff resistance by the Police prevented the hoodlums from gaining access into the Police station. In the course of the exchange of fire, two of the attackers were fatally wounded and died on the spot.
“The third attack at Elimgbu Police Station (Obio/Akpor LGA) was equally resisted by the police, though three officers were killed in that attack the serious fire engagement made them abandon their bullet-riddled Hilux van, while they escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds with a snatched Sienna.
“The continued engagement by the Police, also forced them to abandon the Sienna car they were using to escape at the Refinery junction, while their remnants again escaped with bullet wounds.
“In the meantime, the corpses of the fallen heroes have been evacuated and deposited at the mortuary, while the Commissioner of Police, Eboka Friday, who led members of his management team and tactical Commanders to the respective scenes this morning for an on-the-spot assessment, has launched a serious manhunt for the preparators with a view to apprehending the culprits and bringing them to justice.”
The statement further said the ‘Command is relatively calm and the Commissioner of Police is currently in a security meeting with his team, as security has been further strengthened in all the Police formations in the State, including other critical public and private infrastructure.’
CP further said, “It is pertinent to note that in all three attacks carried out last night, no Police Station/formation was burnt. Regrettably, a total of five assault rifles were lost in the incident.”
The Commission however urged members of the public to increase their security consciousness and report any person or persons with gun wounds to the nearest Police Station or call security lines that have been released to the public.
