Gunmen kill two policemen, abduct 80-year-old in Bayelsa

Two policemen have been killed by some suspected gunmen in Bayelsa State.

It was learnt that the gunmen stormed the residence of the Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Remember Ogbe, to abduct him, but were engaged in a gun battle by the policemen attached to the council boss.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “The gunmen continued shooting especially after they were initially repelled by the police. They kept shooting at the chairman’s building.

“But the policemen withstood them. They showed some gallantry. However, two of the policemen were not lucky. They were hit by bullets and died.

“The gunmen escaped without fulfilling their mission, which was to abduct the chairman.”

The source, however, said the gunmen escaped into the creeks with the riffles of the slain policemen.

The incident, it was gathered, threw the community into confusion and sent residents scampering for safety.

A police squad carried out preliminary investigations on the incident and later arrested a suspected mastermind of the incident identified as Seigha Oduwaiye, 24.

Oduwaiye, who hails from Akassa in Brass Local Government Area, was said to have made useful statements to the police.

Spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, said detectives had intensified efforts to arrest Oduwaiye’s accomplices.

He said, “On July 30, 2015, at about 8pm, four daredevil gunmen stormed the residence of the Chairman of Southern Ijaw LGA, Remember Ogbe, at Amassoma to abduct him, but were engaged in a gun battle by the policemen attached to the Chairman.

“The gunmen retreated, but the two police corporals lost their lives due to injuries sustained in the encounter.

“The bodies of the slain policemen have been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.”

Also in the state, a gang of kidnappers was said to have attacked the residence of one Mrs. Tonye Aroh in Opume community and abducted her.

The 80-year-old Aroh was kidnapped at about 8pm, same time the other gang of gunmen killed the policemen.

The victim was whisked away in a speedboat.

Confirming the incident, Chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council, Ogbia Clan, Mr. Osanya B. Osanya, condemned the abduction and urged the kidnappers to release the old woman without delay.
Source