The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Kimo, has set up a “high-powered” investigative panel headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Investigation Department, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the ambush by unknown gunmen of policemen on Wednesday at Okujagu waterways in Okrika Local Government Area, Rivers State.
Disclosing the incident on friday, the command’s Spokesman Ahmad Mohammed in a statement said, the policemen were part of a team of officers that were on routine police inquiry when they were ambushed at the community, while disembarking from their boat.
He said six officers, 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 revealed.
