Unknown gunmen murdered 2 policemen, 1 NSCDC operative in Bayelsa

The Bayelsa police command have recorded another tragic death of two policemen, just the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps also lost a gallant operative, Friday night as they were shot dead by unknown gunmen at Ekebiri waterways in Southern Ijaw Local Government area.

The gunmen, suspected to be sea pirates, murdered two policemen and an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on the meandering creek of the Ekebiri waterways.

The sea pirates, it was learnt, lay in wait in a concealed position in Ekebiri creek and opened fire on sighting the patrol team comprising policemen and civil defenders.

The victims, who were said to be members of an anti-vandals’ team, were reportedly on routine patrol when the gunmen attacked them.

The gunmen were said to have snatched the rifles of their victims, whose bodies were later recovered by divers.

The deceased NSCDC personnel identified as Sango Potipher, was said to be an indigene of Okpotuari community of 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 pleaded anonymity said, “While on patrol at Tebidaba area in Southern Ijaw, the combined team of NSCDC was ambushed.

“There was a fierce gun battle between the security operatives and the gunmen and the operative of the NSCDC was killed while two policemen were killed. 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 equally craved anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the matter, said when the sad news filtered in about 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 unknown gunmen had taken their guns.”

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

Agu said investigations were ongoing to arrest the perpetrators (killers) of the security personnel.

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, however, noted that one policeman was still missing after the attack.