The Bayelsa State Police Command averted another tragedy on Tuesday as suspected militants opened fire on police patrol teams along the Oporoma/Oyoma waterways in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state. Read more
In the gun duel, 10 gunmen were killed and their boat sunk by the police.
Suspected militants had killed 11 policemen on April 6 while on official duty at Azuzuama, in the same local government area. According to reports, the attack carried out by 10 gunmen met with a fierce resistance from armed police team in gunboats.
Checks indicated that Mr. Tonye Ebitibituwa who recently resumed as the Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State had embarked on a week-long familiarization tour of formations under the command.
In order to forestall any ugly incident during Ebitibituwa tour, the Command had deployed patrol teams with gunboats to notorious areas According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Alex Akhigbe said the gunboats were attacked at Oporoma/ Onyoma waterways.
He said in the ensuing gun battle, police superior fire killed the 10 gunmen while their boat was sunk. “Gunboats deployed to beef up security in Twon Brass, Akassa, Okpoama and Southern Ijaw area of the state were attacked between Oporoma/Oyoma waterways on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at about 19.30hrs,by a boat with about 10 armed men believed to be notorious sea pirates who have been terrorizing our waterways.
“In the ensuring gun battle, some of the pirates were feared dead, others jumped into the water while their boats were sunk.
What would have turned out to be another calamity was averted due to the alertness of the patrol team, and the preparedness of the Bayelsa State Police Command to deal with sea piracy, armed robbery and other crimes in the state.
“Members of the public are advised to go about their normal duties as police are on top of the situation. No stone will be left unturned in our quest to deal with all criminal elements in the state,” the PPRO said in the statement.
Culled from The Sun newspaper
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