12 police killed as gunmen attack Rivers, A/Ibom checkpoints, police stations

Twelve police including officers have been killed in separate gunmen attacks on police checkpoints, police stations and headquarters in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

Rivers police command spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed on Saturday that seven police officers were killed.

He said the attack occurred on Friday night at two police stations and a checkpoint, adding that vehicles belonging to the Rivers command were also set ablaze.

Two of the attackers were also said to have been shot dead.

“The incident which led to the death of seven policemen occurred last night at about 2030hrs, where unknown gunmen driven in two branded Hilux vans, attacked the special checkpoint at Choba Bridge, where in a surprise attack, killed two policemen on duty and set ablaze a private car belonging to one of the Policemen,” Omoni said in a statement.

He also said, “A similar attack was launched at Rumuji Police Station by the same hoodlums who killed two Policemen on duty and burnt a Police patrol vehicle.

“However, a stiff resistance by the Police prevented the hoodlums from gaining access into the police station. In the course of exchange of fire, two of the attackers were fatally wounded and died on the spot.

“The third attack at Elimgbu Police Station was equally resisted by the Police, though three officers were killed in that attack, but the serious fire engagement made them to abandon their bullet riddled Hilux van, while they escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds with a snatched Sienna bus.

“The continued engagement by the police also forced them to abandon the Sienna car they were using to escape at the Refinery Junction, while their remnants again escaped with bullet wounds.”

The police spokesman added that the corpses of the deceased officers had been deposited in the mortuary, and calm restored to the area.

He also noted that Rivers police commissioner, Eboka Friday, had launched an investigation into the incident, while a police team is currently on the trail of the attackers.

This happened despite a curfew imposed in Rivers days after nine security operatives of the army, police and the Nigerian Customs Service were killed at various checkpoints around the state.

In Akwa Ibom State, five policemen and one woman were killed during a Saturday dawn attack at the divisional police headquarters, Odoro Ikpe in the Ini Local Government Area.

Chairman of the council, Mr Israel Adaisin, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday, blamed members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) for the attack.

According to him, the gunmen invaded the divisional police station around 2.45am and killed five police officers.

He said they also killed one woman, burnt several vehicles and destroyed other facilities.

He said eyewitnesses told him the gunmen, numbering more than 40, arrived at the council headquarters in two buses and a Sienna car.

The chairman said, “They arrived at Ini Local Government Area with sophisticated weapons, broke into the police facility at precisely 2.45am, killing five policemen on duty, burning of vehicles while inflicting injuries on others.”

He added some police officers who attempted to repel the gunmen were overrun.

Adaisin, who visited the scene of the attack with member representing Ini Constituency in Akwa Ibom Assembly, Emmanuel Bassey, appealed for calm while condoling with the victims.

He said, “I can confirm that gunmen arrived at the Ini Local Government Area with two buses and one Sienna car on Saturday at 2.45 am numbering more than 40 men, killed 5 policemen on duty and one woman at Odoro Ikpe Police Station while burning several vehicles during the attack.

“I want to also extend my heartfelt condolences to the fallen heroes families and the Nigeria Police Force who died in the line of duty.

“I want to also thank the youths of the Ini Local Government Area who were proactive in raising alarm which was the needed force that helped to reduce the level of casualties which would have been recorded as a result of the attack.

“I urge the good people of the Ini LGA to stay calm as we are working with relevant security agencies and the government of Akwa Ibom State to ensure that the situation is contained and necessary modalities are being put in place to forestall a reoccurrence.

“There is no cause for fear as the culprits will be brought to book in no distant time.”