A team of policemen yesterday foiled an attempt by a gang of kidnappers to abduct the Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Mr. Remember Ogbeh.
But two of the policemen, identified by their ranks as corporal, were killed by the rampaging gunmen.
The operatives, attached to the chairman, were said to have spotted the gunmen around the residence of the council boss in Amasomma, Southern Ijaw,, at about 8pm on Thursday.
The gunmen were said to have opened fire on the security team after sighting them.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The bandits had sophisticated guns. They were shooting indiscriminately, especially after their sporadic gunshots were replied by the police. They kept shooting at the building.
“But the policemen withstood them. They showed some gallantry. However, two of the policemen were not lucky enough. They were hit by bullets and they died. The gunmen escaped without fulfilling their sinister mission of abducting the chairman.”
The gunmen were said to have escaped into the creeks with the riffles of the slain policemen.
The incident, it was gathered, threw the area into confusion and sent people scampering to safety.
It was, however, gathered that a special squad of the police carried out preliminary investigations on the fleeing gunmen and later arrested an alleged mastermind of the incident, identified as 24-year-old Seigha Oduwaiye.
Oduwaiye, who hails from Akassa in Brass Local Government Area, was said to have made useful statements to the police.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, said the men of the anti-kidnapping unit of the police have intensified efforts to arrest Oduwaiye’s fleeing gang members.
He said: “On the 30 July, 2015, at about 8pm four dare-devil gunmen stormed the residence of the of Southern Ijaw LGA, Hon Remember Ogbe, at Amassoma in Southern Ijaw LGA to abduct him, but were engaged in a gun battle with the policemen attached to the chairman.
“The unknown gunmen retreated, but the two police orcporals lost their lives due to injuries sustained in the encounter. The corpses of the deceased policemen were deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Mortuary, Yenagoa, for autopsy.”
In a related development, a gang of kidnappers was said to have attacked the residence of one Mrs. Tonye Aroh in Opume community in Ogbia, and abducted her.
The 80-year-old Aroh was said to have been kidnapped at about 8pm, same time the other gang of gunmen killed the policemen.
The bandits were said to have unsettled the community with sporadic shooting before whisking the octogenarian away in a speedboat.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Ogbia Clan, Mr. Osanya B. Osanya, condemned the abduction and urged the kidnappers to release the old woman without delay.
“The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Ogbia clan will partner with the security agencies to make sure the woman is released safely. We advise the youths in the clan to conduct themselves properly and engage in legal activities,” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment