The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Asinim Butswat

  • Policeman kills colleague in Bayelsa

    Policeman kills colleague in Bayelsa

    A police officer was inadvertently shot and killed by a colleague during a gun duel between the police and suspected cultists on Monday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    An eyewitness said on Tuesday the incident occurred at Obele Area of Ovom in Yenagoa, leaving residents in apprehension.

    According to the eyewitness, trouble started when a misunderstanding among the feasting cultists degenerated to a fight within the group, resulting in gunshots which eventually attracted a police patrol team to the area.

    The state police spokesman, Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the incident, said the killing was shocking.

    “Yes, the incident was between cultists but as the police went to find out what was going on, the cultists started shooting and one of the policemen mistakenly shot an officer.

    Read Also: Police arrest man for slashing his girlfriend’s throat

    “Though, we are yet to get the full details because some of our men, who were at the scene, are supposed to brief us on the matter.

    “Nevertheless, the police authorities are intensifying efforts to ensure a crime-free environment for people in Bayelsa during this period of Christmas celebration; we deployed over 4,000 personnel for patrol.

    “We adopted some strategies like ‘Cordon and Search’; I must tell you, our men and women are fully on operations to safeguard lives and property,” Butswat said.

    The police spokesman urged the residents to continue with their lawful endeavours and support the police by providing timely and credible information on criminal activities.

    “I also urge them to continue to enjoy the Christmas celebration and steer clear of every criminal activity,” he said.

    NAN

     

     

  • Oil workers injured as fire engulfs Consolidated Oil in Bayelsa

    Oil workers injured as fire engulfs Consolidated Oil in Bayelsa

    At least two oil workers were injured in an early morning fire outbreak at an oil rig operated by Consolidated Oil, an indegenous oil firm at Akassa, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

    A sources at the oilfield, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the fire was caused by an electrical fault, which resulted in colossal damage.

    “The enormity of the fire hampered initial rescue efforts, and it is expected in an oil and gas environment, but the emergency response systems were activated in the facility and the fire was put out.

    “However, two workers were rescued and have been stabilised and receiving medical attention.

    “The facility has been shut down and the area is calm,” the source said.

    Another security source deployed to the area confirmed the fire incident and allayed fears that it was a militant attack.

    “The fire incident is an operational mishap and has nothing to do with militants. So it is within the operational levels of the company and officials  are currently assessing the damage done by the fire”.

    Mr Asinim Butswat, spokesman of the Bayelsa Police Command, on telephone that the Command was awaiting detailed information on the incident.

    He promised that the command will provide details of the incident as soon as it was available.

    NAN

  • Militants attack vessel, kill three security escorts in Bayelsa

    Militants attack vessel, kill three security escorts in Bayelsa

    Barely three weeks after an ambush on a military houseboat that killed two in Southern Ijaw creeks in Bayelsa, suspected militants have attacked a tugboat in the same area and killed three crew members.

    Suspected Niger Delta militants had on August 28 ambushed a houseboat operated by the Joint Task Force and killed a soldier and a civilian crew member.

    An oil services vessel with a combined team of security escort on board and civilians was attacked on Friday by suspected sea pirates at Ekebiri Waterways in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa.

    Two of the victims of the incident which occurred on Friday were security escorts and a civilian crew member of the tugboat towing a vessel.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the incident, said one police operative was still missing as his remains had yet to be recovered.

    He said a response team dispatched to the crime scene rescued eight occupants of the ill-fated boat while efforts are underway to arrest the armed men.

     

  • Gunmen kill police sergeant in Bayelsa

    Gunmen kill police sergeant in Bayelsa

    Gunmen have attacked a police patrol team along Kolo Road in the Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa, killing a police sergeant.

    The assailants also made away with the weapon of their victim.

    The spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the development, said the incident took place on Monday.

    Butswat said a police corporal and a civilian were also injured in the attack, the latest in the string of militant attacks in resource-rich Niger Delta.

    According to him, the injured corporal and the civilian have been admitted in a hospital for medical attention.

    He said: “The Bayelsa State Police Command wishes to use this medium to inform the general public that on September 4 at about 8:30 p.m., policemen on vehicular patrol along Kolo 2, Ogbia local government area were attacked by unknown gunmen.

    “The policemen, based on a tip-off, intercepted a vehicle conveying suspected militants.

    “Two of the suspects were arrested and handcuffed but resisted any attempt by the policemen to search their vehicle.

    “In the ensuing uproar, members of the community gathered around the vehicle and rescued the arrested suspects and the policemen were attacked.

    “The command regrettably, lost a police sergeant and arms, a police corporal and a civilian were injured and are responding to treatment in hospital.

    “Members of the public are advised to assist the police in fighting crime, rather than to compound police investigation as the crowd was partly responsible for the attack on the policemen.”

    NAN

  • Man killed by gunmen in Yenagoa not NYSC member – Spokesman

    Man killed by gunmen in Yenagoa not NYSC member – Spokesman

    Samuel Collins, the 31-year-old man shot dead by unknown gunmen on Saturday in Yenagoa, is not a corps member, an official of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) in Bayelsa, has said.

    Mr Mathew Ngobua, Head, Public Relations Unit, NYSC office Yenagoa, made the clarification on Monday in Yenagoa in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    He said that checks conducted at NYSC database revealed that the name of the victim was not in the record.

    He described reports that the victim was a corps member as “misleading,’’ adding that the security of corps members was top priority of the management of the NYSC in Bayelsa.

    NAN reports that Collins was until his death, a contract security guard.

    He was shot by unknown gunmen and dispossessed of his mobile phone, money and other valuables in Kpansia suburb of Yenagoa.

    The Police Public Relations Officer at the Bayelsa Command, Mr Asinim Butswat, had confirmed the incident to NAN on Sunday in Yenagoa.

    Butswat also corrected the impression that the victim was a corps member.

    He explained that family members of the deceased said that Collins was undergoing training on oil and gas skills project in Port Harcourt.

    “On 24 June, 2017 at 2130 hours, policemen responded to a distress call of cult activities at Kpansia, Yenagoa.

    “The policemen responded swiftly and on arrival met a young man in a pool of blood.

    “The young man was later identified as one Samuel Collins third party security operative at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

    “Collins was undergoing training programme at Port Harcourt and came to Yenagoa for the holidays.

    “The deceased was not an NYSC member as erroneously captured in some headlines,” Butswat said.

    The police spokesman said the killing was cult related based on the utterances of the gunmen as narrated to the Police by eyewitnesses before the victim was shot.

    He said that investigation was on-going to unravel those behind the dastardly act and apprehend them since the police had gathered useful information on the cult group.

  • Hoodlums kill policeman in Bayelsa beer parlour

    Unidentified hoodlums have killed a policeman in a beer parlour in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    It was gathered that the hoodlums stole a police AK47 riffle after hacking their victim to death at one of the relaxation spot along the Hospital Road area of the state capital.

    The incident, which happened on Sunday, reportedly caused panic in the area that is notorious for prostitution and forced many pubs to temporarily shut down their business.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said the policeman went to the pub with his riffle to drink some bottles of beer.

    He said unknown to the deceased, some bandits, who were interested in his rifle joined him at the bar pretending to be customers.

    “After taking some bottles, the policeman stood up and went to the backyard to urinate. He was holding his riffle. But the criminals also followed him to the backyard where they attacked and killed him. They fled with his gun,” he said.

    It was gathered that the police later raided shanties occupied by prostitutes in the area in search of the fleeing hoodlums.

    Multiple security sources including a senior police officer, who spoke in confidence, confirmed the development.

    Efforts to reach the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Asinim Butswat, proved abortive as he was said to be in an emergency senior officers’ meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Asuquo Amba.

     

  • Police avert herdsmen/farmers clash in Bayelsa

    The Police Command in Bayelsa said it had foiled a clash between herdsmen and farmers in Agudama community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bayelsa Government had donated a grazing land to herdsmen and subsequently banned indiscriminate and open grazing in the state.

    Police Spokesman in the state, DSP Asinim Butswat, told NAN on Friday that the operation which averted the clash was led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police.

    “On March 19, 2017, at about 10 a.m., His Royal Majesty, Obadiah John Osumu, King of Akenfa-Epie Community raised an alarm about herdsmen activities in Akenfa Community.

    “Consequently, an Assistant Commissioner of Police led a team of policemen to the scene.

    “The team noticed heavy movement of cattle in the area but diverted them to avoid destruction of farmlands,” Butswat said.

    The police spokesman advised community leaders in the state to maintain peace and always partner with the Police to prevent crime in their communities.

  • Police kill two armed robbers in Yenagoa

    The Police in Bayelsa on Thursday killed two armed robbers in Opolo Area of Yenagoa, the state capital.

    The Spokesman of Bayelsa Police Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, disclosed this to journalists at a press briefing on Friday.

    Butswat said a three-man armed gang had besieged a supermarket at Opolo in Yenagoa local government area, firing warning shots but residents alerted the police.

    However, a resident of the area, Mr. Emmanuel James, said the crowd dared the gang firearms.

    “The people were determined and very courageous, by their sheer numbers, they gave the robbers a good chase and soon afterwards the police arrived and two out of the three robbers were brought down.

    “This really showed that with determination, the majority can really put a stop to the crimes perpetrated by the minority amongst us, be it in politics, social and economic sectors.

    “It was the triumph of the power of the people, if we can follow this path, we shall achieve our dreams as people,” James said.

    The police spokesman added that two armed robbers died at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, of gunshot injuries.

    “On Thursday 9th March, 2017 at about 3:30 p.m., three young men armed with locally made pistols, attacked Ankos Supermarket at Opolo, Yenagoa, and carted away the sum N105,000.

    “The Special Anti -Robbery Squad (SARS) swiftly responded to the distress call and the armed robbers engaged the policemen in a gun duel.

    “Consequently, one of the suspects escaped, while the other suspects sustained gunshot injuries. They were arrested and taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, for treatment where they were confirmed dead.”

    NAN

  • Police seek clues on deadly Bayelsa community attack

    The Police Command in Bayelsa on Friday called for information that would lead to the arrest of suspects, who killed a resident of Korokorosei Community in Southern Ijaw.

    According to the Spokesman of the command, Mr Asinim Butswat, the killing carried out on Wednesday might be a reprisal attack.

    Sources at Korokorosei community told our reporter that the attackers shot dead a young man identified simply as Erelayefa.

    Two pupils of a primary school in the community were also injured.

    Sources said the home of the coordinator of the state’s oil and gas task force and three other homes were set ablaze.

    Butswat said the attack might not be unconnected with the arrest of three suspects by men of the Joint Task Force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps over vandalism of oil facilities.

    He said the suspects were arrested over their alleged involvement in the December 2016 attack on the Tebidaba trunk line, operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company.

     

  • Police arrests three suspected kidnappers in Bayelsa

    The anti-kidnapping unit of Bayelsa Police Command has arrested three suspected kidnappers and rescued a woman in their custody.

    The command’s spokesman, Mr. Asinim Butswat, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa that the suspects were arrested on May 3.

    He said the three were among the four gunmen that abducted Mrs. Immaculate Nwachukwu, the wife of Dr. Uche Nwachukwu at Otiotio area of Yenagoa.

    According to Butswat, the victim was freed during the operation and two suspected kidnappers aged 23 and 29, were arrested at Choba in Port Harcourt, Rivers.

    “The suspects confessed to the crime and revealed that one Samuel Yellow, alias Sammy, who hails from Ahoada in Rivers, but resident at Okutukutu area of Yenagoa, invited them from Ahoada to carry out the operation.

    “Upon interrogation, the suspects led police to the house of Samuel at Okutukutu, Yenagoa, on Saturday, where he was arrested.

    “One double barrel gun, one single barrel gun, a sledgehammer and two live cartridges, were recovered from the apartment.

    “Efforts have been intensified to arrest the fourth suspect, one Ndubisi, surname unknown,” Butswat said.

    The police spokesman urged members of the public to always volunteer useful information that would assist the command in its fight against criminals in the state.