As many as 5 police officers have disappeared in Rivers State after gunmen who are still unidentified, laid an ambush for them.
Men of the Nigeria Police Force
The Rivers State Police Command on Friday declared the five policemen missing after an ambush by unknown gunmen on Wednesday at Okujagu waterways in Okrika Local Government Area.
Punch reports that the command also announced the arrest of 53 suspects in connection with the missing policemen.
State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Muhammad, said in a statement that the policemen were part of a team that were on a routine police inquiry when they were attacked before they could disembark from the boat conveying them.
Muhammad explained that six policemen, comprising two inspectors and four other officers were initially missing while Inspector Aferuan Imoukhuede was rescued a day after.
“The Rivers State Police Command has announced the missing of five policemen who along with other colleagues were ambushed in the early hours of Wednesday 25/05/2016 at the Okujagu community, Okrika Local Government Area.
“The policemen went to Okujagu community on a routine police inquiry when they were ambushed by unknown gunmen before they could disembark from the boat that ferried them, they were bombarded with a barrage of heavy gunfire which forced them to scamper for cover.
“By the time the firing ended, six policemen comprising two inspectors and four other rank and file could not be accounted for but a day after Inspector Aferuan Imoukhuede, who was among the missing policemen, was rescued.
“Sting operations by the command are still on the top gear to rescue the remaining five missing policemen. Fifty-three suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident and are currently undergoing interrogation,” he added.
Muhammad, however, disclosed that the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Kimo, had set up a “high-powered” investigative panel headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Investigation Department, to unravel the circumstances surrounding the entire incident.