Police Extend Curfew In Bayelsa To Feb 23 …As Gunmen Kill Four Soldiers, Two Civilians

The Bayelsa State Police Command has extended the three-day dusk-to dawn curfew earlier imposed on the state from February 17 to February 23.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Uche Anozia, announced the curfew extension, yesterday, during a press briefing in Yenagoa.
“The Bayelsa State Police Command wishes to commend the general public over their good conduct in observing the dusk to dawn curfew imposed on the state as a result of the violent protest that accompanied the Supreme Court judgement, on Thursday, February 13, 2020.
“On the other hand, in the light of credible intelligence available to the Command vis-a-vis the prevailing security situation in Bayelsa State, the command has deemed it necessary to review and extend the curfew to Sunday February 23, with effect from today, Monday 17, from 10:pm to 6:am.
“Members of the public are advised to remain indoors as security agencies will be out to arrest anyone who violates the curfew; such outlaws will be prosecuted. They are also advised to remain calm as the command is poised to ensure the safety of lives and property in the state,” he said.
The Bayelsa Police Command had imposed three days dusk-to-dawn curfew earlier.
However, unidentified gunmen suspected to be pirates have attacked an oil barge along the waterways of Lutegbene, Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
It was gathered that the gunmen, who launched the vicious attack killed four soldiers escorting the barge and two civilians.
Others in the ill-fated vessel were said to have escaped with gunshot wounds by diving into the water and swimming to safety.
The incident, which happened last Sunday night, reportedly unsettled the community as troops were said to have mobilised to the area demanding residents to produce the perpetrators.
Multiple sources, who confirmed the development, said angry soldiers had started burning some houses in the area following failures by the residents to identify the suspects.
A source from the council, who spoke in confidence, said the soldiers were escorting the barge from Port Harcourt in Rivers State to Warri in Delta State when it came under attack.
He said: “The soldiers were escorting a barge when gunmen appeared on speedboat and opened fire on them. They killed four soldiers and two civilians. Others were injured.
“As I am talking to you, soldiers are burning down some houses in the area because they asked the residents to produce the killers”.
When contacted the Spokesman for the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe, Eromosele Unuakhalu, could not answer his telephone calls.
However, sources in Lutegbene community said, yesterday, that soldiers have stormed the community, shooting indiscriminately, razing houses and injuring many, apparently in search of the suspected pirates.
The source did not confirm if they were casualties as at the time of filing this report last night.