Gunmen Kill 3 Policemen In PH

Unknown gunmen yesterday shot dead three mobile police officers attached to the Swift Operation Squad. The victims met their unfortunate end along the G.U. Ake Road (Eliozu axis) in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The Tide learnt that the three dead police officers were among other police personnel attached to vehicles of intending Rivers pilgrims heading to Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa enroute to Israel.

The dare devil gunmen took the escort policemen by surprise and shot severally at the vehicles. One of them died at the spot while the two lost the battle for life at Teme Clinic, Port Harcourt.

A driver of one of the vehicles that conveyed the bodies of the policemen to Teme Clinic recounted how the gunmen wasted the lives of the policemen.

At the heat of the attack, he said that he and occupants of the vehicle fled into a nearby bush only to come out and see three policemen lying down on the ground.

Efforts to get the reactions of the Chairman, Rivers State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev Father John Wamgbu could not yield result as his phone line was not available.

Meanwhile, Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Dr Rita Innoma-Abbey confirmed the incident, noting that it was one of the pilgrims that alerted the police of the matter.

Though she could not provide the names of the affected police officers, Dr Inoma-Abbey said that the police convoy made up of three vans, going one- way due to construction work along the Eliozu Road was attacked by unknown gunmen.

The Police Public Relations Officer while speaking in an emotional voice said,” that is the price we pay to protect lives and property as we swore to do”.

By the time she arrived at the Teme Hospital where the policemen were taken for treatment, it was confirmed that the two survivors had equally given up the ghost.

The Commander of the Swift Operation Squad (SOS) was also at hand with other police officials to move the bodies of the dead policemen to mortuary.

Kevin Nengia