Gunmen Kill JTF Commander, Seven Others In Bayelsa

Two different attacks on security agents along Nembe and Brass creeks, yesterday, left six policemen and two naval ratings dead.

The first incident occured along Nembe creeks when suspected pirates ambushed the police on regular patrol of the area and opened fire on them, killing four on the spot while several others were wounded.

The second incident that occured along Brass River also recorded four casualties as a JTF patrol boat ran into some unknown armed bandits who did not waste time to engage them in a battle of superiority.

At the end of the battle, two policemen and two naval ratings, among them the commanding officer of the Brass sector simply identified as Lt.Col Maliki were shot dead with many others sustaining serious injuries.

The Tide gathered that the JTF operatives were returning from Brass when they were attacked.

It was not known as at the time of filing this report whether any of the bandits was killed.

The Police command, in Yenagoa confirmed the incident but the spokesman for JTF, Col. Timothy Atigha said they were yet to get the full reports of the incident.

The Tide recalled that some group of persons had been threatening mayhem over non-inclusion in the amnesty programme while MEND had also signified its intention to resume hostilities along the Niger Delta creeks, a threat that had always been dismissed by a wave of hands.

In another development, the state government has reacted to the news reports that there was bomb explosion in Biogbolo Community in Yenagoa yesterday.

In a press statement signed by the Senior Media Assistant to Governor, Mr David Iworiso Markson read in parts “ The story is not only malicious but an outright falsehood. The fact is that there was no explosion. What was misconstrued as explosion was mere knock-outs thrown around the streets by merry-making youths and okada – riders who were celebrating the defeat of the English national team by their Dutch counterpart in an international friendly match.

It therefore beats the imagination of government that an innocuous act of our youths was hyped to mean bomb explosion by enemies of Bayelsa State. It is clear that the motive of the mischief was to cause fear in the minds of Bayelsans and create a negative perception in the minds of prospective investors that Bayelsa State is unsafe for investments and tourism.

Government wishes to assure Bayelsans and all investors that no amount of propaganda and mischief by enemies of progress would distract the administration of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson from delivering on his restoration agenda to the good people of Bayelsa State and Ijaw nation.

Government, therefore, calls on Bayelsans to ignore the  reumoured explosion and go about their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation as government had put in place measures to secure lives and property across the state.

Governor Dickson and the various security outfits like the JTF, police and State Security Service are working assiduously to ensure that Bayelsa State is at peace. The government called on all media practitioners to always verify their information before publishing.

Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime (left) receiving Vice President Namadi Sambo at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, yesterday