Robbers Kill Two Police Officers, Others In PH

Tragedy struck on Monday as unidentified armed robbers invaded the popular Everyday Supermarket along Rumuola axis in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, killing a lady, simply identified as a cashier of the supermarket and two police escorts.

Sources told The Tide that the incident occurred at about 9.30 am when some staff of Everyday Emporium, Rumuola were conveying undisclosed amount of money with police escorts from the Emporium to Everyday Supermarket in GRA of Port Harcourt.

According to the source, unknown to the police escorts, the armed robbers had laid ambush at Umurelu Street behind Rumuola junction, adding that the robbers on sighting the bullion van conveying the monies, opened fire on it, killing the staff of the supermarket and the police officers.

The incident, it was further learnt, caused pandemonium as both motorists and passersby within the vicinity ran for  cover while the armed men fired indiscriminately to make good their escape.

The two policemen and the cashier were said to have died on the spot.

When contacted, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ben Ugwuegbulam who confirmed the incident said only one police corporal was killed in the attack and not two as was speculated.

The police image maker further stated that two policemen in a back-up escort vehicle suffered gun shot wounds and were responding to treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt, adding that a combined team of police formation was working tirelessly to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command said adequate security has been put in place for a successful Sallah and Christmas celebrations in the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ben Ugwuegbulam who disclosed this in an interview with The Tide in his office said that enough police men had been placed on standby.

The police image maker stated that there would be no hiding place for  criminals within the period, and urged members of the public to go about their normal businesses without any fear, as the police had put every machinery in place to guarantee the safety of lives and property in the state.

He urged members of the public to always assist  the police with useful information within their environment that would help in effective policing of the state.

It would be recalled that a similar incident occurred barely two weeks ago at the Ikwerre Road branch of the Diamond Bank when armed robbers  stormed the bank premises and killed a police corporal and a driver of a Hilux vehicle.