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Tag: Rivers State

  • Five persons killed in Rivers state

    Five persons killed in Rivers state

    Sitting at the Rivers state High court complex in Port Harcourt the state capital was Tuesday disrupted, following the gruesome murder of two Private security guards on duty by unknown persons, early morning Tuesday.

    Also three persons were reportedly killed in Bori, the traditional headquarters of Khana, Local Government Area of the state.

    The Police Public Relation Officer, Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the attacks in Port Harcourt the state capital yesterday.

    The two Guards on night duty were reportedly murdered at the Block ‘C’ (new court building), of the court complex, while

    It was not clear the time the two guards were killed, it is believed that they were killed early morning. The development crippled activities at the court complex. Courts did not sit in the complex, as police Hilux trucks and men took over the court gates.

    Judiciary workers who came to work were asked to go home to allow the Police carry out investigations into the killing.

    Blood splash of the killed was noticed around the Block ‘C’ environment, they apparently struggled with their killers.

    Mohammad said no police officer was killed in any of the attacks, but noted that the police have beefed up security in the areas, to forestall further attacks.

    The Chief Security Officer (CSO), of the complex Tabo-Tubor Douglas corroborated the Police over the alleged killing of Police officers in the attack.

    Douglas debunked the media report earlier that Police officers were killed in the attack and that the victims died of gun shots.

    He appealed to media men to always cross check their reports before going on air to so that they will not mislead the public.

    he said, “I want to appeal to the members of the media to always verify the source of their news, before going on air. “There was no gunshot anywhere in this premises last night. No Policeman was killed, instead it was our people that were killed, two security men while the third person was injured and is presently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

    “This place was as calm as every other place last night.”

    “We came to work this Tuesday morning to discover that Police officers have taken over the gates of the court complex. On inquiry, we discovered that two of my security men have been killed and their corpses found within the premises.

    “Nobody knows who killed them.”

    Asked the time he resumed work yesterday to discover what happened said, “I resumed work by some minutes past 6: am. The Police had already taken over the complex and the victims had already been killed before then. Nobody can for now tell the actual time the attack took place last Tuesday morning but it had happened before we resumed work this (yesterday), morning,” he said.

    According to him, apart from the people that were killed, no office was tampered with neither was anything taken away from the complex.

    He disagreed with the rumour that the attack may not be unconnected with the suspected resumption yesterday,  of the on-going trial of the three suspected killers of a militant Leader, Sogboma George, which was to come up in one of the high courts in the complex Tuesday.

    In his views, the matter has been going on in the premises in the past four years, without any turmoil, he wondered why anybody could believe that yesterday’s sitting should be the reason for attacking innocent person on their legitimate duty posts.

    “Please Sogboma matter has been on in this court premises for more than four years now, the sittings have been very peaceful, people should stop saying what they do not know and allow the police to carry out their investigations.”

    He denied knowledge of whether the case was supposed to come up in the court yesterday. “Even at that, the people have been coming here for the matter without any problems. I believe somebody decided to do this to create scene.” He said.

    He assured that courts will resume sitting Wednesday.

     

  • Rivers State killings: Group seeks President Buhari’s action

    A group, Ekpeye Patriotic Front, Rivers State on Tuesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately take steps to end the orgy of senseless killings of innocent and law abiding citizens in the state especially in Ekpeye Kingdom.
    The group said that its appeal became necessary following the sustained killings in Ekpeye Kingdom especially the killing of over 20 persons in Ula-Upata and Edeoha town on Saturday, April 30th 2016.
    The group claimed that it has become obvious that the Nyesom Wike led Rivers State Government is keeping quiet over the killings because it is allegedly benefiting from the increase in the crime rate in the state.
    President of the group, Mr. Udhuluma Okpara, in a statement made available to our reporter in Abuja, lamented that since 2015 over 200 Ekpeye citizens comprising Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas have been killed by sponsored cultists.
    Okpara recalled that “on 19th of January 2016, the assassins led by the notorious criminal stormed Ula -Upata and killed 17 persons, including a serving Police Corporal and the mother of another Police officer.
    He noted that “since then there is no day the group do not kill at least two persons on the average leaving many families in pains and agony.
    He said that “because of the daily and deadly activities of this group, many Ekpeye communities have been deserted for fear of attacks by these boys, which they carry out freely without any hindrance by the security agencies.”
    Okpara said “the worst of it happened again on 30th of April 2016, when same criminal and his gang stormed Ula-Upata and killed over 20 persons before proceeding to Edeoha community to kill another seven persons including a herbalist Mr Uwuma Ichocho and beheaded them and dumped their heads on the main road while they set ablaze their lifeless bodies.”
    The Rivers State Government and the security agencies, he claimed, have abandoned Ekpeye people to their fate.
    He said that they have written severally to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase and Commissioner of Police in the state on the spate of killings in Ekpeye and “the urgent need to arrest these known hoodlums and to beef up security in Ekpeye and save the lives of Ekpeye people who are daily being killed by these hoodlums.”
    He also claimed that some highly placed security operatives in the state were aiding the hoodlums to perpetrate their killing spree.
    Okpara urged the media and the Rivers State Police command not to play down on the actual nature of crime in Ekpeye by deliberately not telling the public the actual number of persons killed.
    He noted that reports credited to the police that only four persons were killed and the attacks being painted as cult clash is most unfortunate.
    He said that the four members of the Nwoka family of Ula Upata killed last Saturday were innocent persons shot by the hoodlums right in front of their house along the road.
    “The five killed at Edeoha are innocent persons as well,” he said.
    He urged the Police to carry out a thorough investigation and arrest these hoodlums while calling on the President to immediately declare a state of emergency in Rivers State to avert total collapse of security.
    The group listed those killed on 30th April 2015 at Ula-Upata
    1.     Mr. Ihemnachor Esordi
    2.     Mr. Fredrick Martins
    3.     Mr. Gospel Nwoka
    4.     Mr. Akor Aham Nwoka
    5.     Mrs. Aham Nwoka
    6.     Mrs. Aligbo Nwoka
    7.     Mr. Nwadu Nwati
    8.     Three Okada riders
    9.     A meat (suya) seller
    10.   A boy from Ogbo village
    11.   A man from Ula-Ehuda community.
    Those killed at Edeoha town and beheaded
    1.     Mr Uwuma Ichocho
    2.     Master Egbuluka Uwuma
    3.     Chisom Elleh
    4.     Chisanim Okoro
    5.     A visitor from Anakpor village.
  • Navy arrest six ‘vandals’, destroy hundreds of kegs, illegal refineries

    Navy arrest six ‘vandals’, destroy hundreds of kegs, illegal refineries

    In continuation of its war on pipeline vandals and crude oil thieves, operatives of the Nigerian Navy (NN) yesterday nabbed six suspects in Rivers State.
    This is just as NN personnel attached to the NNS BEECROFT in Lagos raided vandals’ haven around Atlas Cove, seizing hundreds of kegs the fleeing criminals abandoned.
    In an operation led by the Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Abraham Adaji, the naval men, who restrained from shooting the vandals to avoid fire outbreaks, confiscated 21 drums of 250 litres each loaded with stolen Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
    Also seized was a wooden Cotonou boat laden with 245 empty drums measuring 250 litres each and 91 empty Jerry cans measuring 25 litres each, while the suspects jumped into the water to evade arrest.
    Confirming the developments, Director, Naval information, Commodore Chris Ezekobe said the group ran out of luck as the naval team which was on routine surveillance patrol of the area discovered they were loading PMS from the NNPC Single point mooring at Atlas cove.
    He also disclosed that the six suspects nabbed in Rivers were being interrogated, adding that personnel on NNS PATHFINDER picked them up from a large warehouse at Ogbogoro Uzoba waterside around Choba.
    “The suspects who are now undergoing investigation were picked up from a large warehouse located at Ogbogoro Uzoba waterside around Choba in Port Harcourt Rivers State.
    “The raid is in continuation of the Chief of the Naval Staff’s strong resolve to stamp out all forms of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal refineries and other unwholesome activities that have impacted negatively on the security and economic development of Nigeria.
    “The warehouse is suspected to serve as a storage facility for illegally refined products. Also discovered in the facility include three wooden boats containing about 20,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO, 350 drums, several GP and metal tanks ranging from 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 litres storage capacity as well as seven pumping machines.
    “In addition, another Navy patrol team deployed from NNS DELTA discovered and destroyed two illegal refineries in Jones creek in Warri South West local Government Area of Delta State. The items also destroyed in the site include a Cotonou boat laden with about 66,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, four GP storage tanks measuring 500 litres each. The GP tanks contain 2,000 metric tons of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO.
    “Other items discovered at the site are 50 Jerry cans measuring 50 litres each containing 2.5 MT of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO, pumping machine, large metal tanks and a Cotonou boat,” said Ezekobe.

  • Rivers: Navy arrests two boats with illegally reifined diesel

    Rivers: Navy arrests two boats with illegally reifined diesel

    The Nigerian Navy in Port Harcourt on Sunday said it seized two wooden boats used in conveying 100,000 litres of suspected illegally refined diesel worth N20.4 million in Rivers.

    The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder’s Base Operations Officer, Cdr. Ugochukwu Ajulu, told newsmen that three suspects were arrested on board one of the wooden boats.

    Ajulu said the boats were seized at Akuku-Toru Local Government Area during routine patrol of waterways and creeks in the state.

    “In line with strategic directives from naval authorities, on March 31, our troops on routine patrol impounded two wooden boats carrying suspected illegally refined diesel of about 100,000 litres.

    “The first boat transporting about 60 drums fully loaded with suspected stolen diesel was impounded along Bakana waterways with three suspects on board.

    “The second boat, which had over 100 drums laden with illegally refined diesel, was seized while it anchored at Aiteo jetty near Abonema.

    “About 5,000 litres of diesel was also stored in a compartment on the boat,” he said.

    Ajulu said that naval operatives were unable to make any arrest from the second boat as its crew members had fled the scene on sighting advancing naval patrol gunboats.

    The Commander said that preliminary investigation was ongoing to unravel the source and supply chain of the products.

    According to him, the suspects will be handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for further investigation and possible arraignment in court.

    Ajulu called on members of the public to provide the navy with timely information that would lead to arrest of oil thieves, adding that identity of such individuals would be protected.

    One of the suspects, Timothy Williamson, 33, admitted the crime before newsmen and pleaded for leniency from authorities.

    Williamson, a Rivers indigene, said he was recruited into oil bunkering in January by a woman simply identified as “Mama”, who distributed the product to some companies in the state.

    “We work for our madam (mama) who we usually cook the product for at our operating base in Snake creek in the state.

    “We supply the product to our madam in the city who in turn supplies the product to Peace Oil located at Elechi Beach Area of Port Harcourt.

    “Please forgive me as I only indulged myself in this business (oil theft) because I had no job and money to feed myself and cater for my family,” Williamson pleaded.

  • One killed in rivers by unknown gunmen

    The violence that broke in the early hours of Thursday in Buguma, headquarters of Asari Toru local government of Rivers state, has left one person dead.

    Confirming in the unpleasant incident to journalists, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the local government, Mr Sobomabo Jackrich said: “Anybody who resides in Buguma knew this man.

    The caretaker committee chairman described the victim, who was simply identified as Godknows aka Babadiba, selfless, popular, a complete gentleman by every standard.

    “I don’t know why anybody will do this to him. We appointed him Senior Special Adviser on Business Development to help strengthen economic life in the local government.

    “This is a ploy by some persons to destroy the peace in our local government,” Jackrich lamented, adding that the Police are now aware of in the matter, appealing that they should uncover those behind the mindless murder.

  • Rivers Killing: Women group wants FG to question Wike

    Rivers Killing: Women group wants FG to question Wike

    Women Arise for Justice Wednesday called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to question the Governor of Rivers state, Chief Nyesom Wike, over numbers of people who lost their lives at the just concluded legislative re-run elections in that took place in the State.

    The women condemned the killings, calling for the arrest of those found guilty or associated with the violence.

    The group also wants the Federal Government to probe the abduction and the eventual killing of an army Colonel, Samaila Inusa, in Kaduna on Tuesday.

    The over 1000  women who  stormed the Presidential villa in Abuja during a peaceful protest said  all the  deaths, abduction, intimidation and destruction of properties were the product of the do or die politics that featured  during the last  Rivers state re-run election.

    The National  President of the group, Jummai Samuel Pukat who led the protest  said the Governor should be held responsible for all the atrocities since his body language and utterances directly constitute instruction to his political killers to deal with those not on the same side as him.

    According to her, “It was Governor Wike who threatened that there are areas that people from the federal level cannot access in the state. It was him who said anyone coming from outside Rivers State for the re-run must first write their will, which implies that he was confident of how to make sure federal agents do not make it out of Rivers state alive.”

    She said that all those who died in the Rivers State re-run must not die in vain, adding that those who lost their properties must be reassured that there is still a government and that it enforces the law.

    “Our sons, brothers, husband and fathers cannot be continually cut down in their prime with the federal government remaining indifferent simply because the murder took place in Wike‘s Rivers State.

    “We cannot wait until more governors join in this killing spree. We dare not contemplate what will happen if Wike’s approach to treating human lives becomes the new norm. As mothers we no longer have the ability to sleep at night when our loved ones have to undertake even the most basic assignment in Rivers State,” she said.

    Pukat said the deafening silence from the federal government has made Wike to continue insulting and assaulting our sensibilities with lies meant to shift the blame for the killings of others.

    She said history will not be kind to them if the memory of the dead is so desecrated with lies.

    “Our hearts bleed Mr. President. We are worried and confused and we ask if Rivers state is still part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she added

     

  • No Party can beat PDP in Rivers – Wike

    No Party can beat PDP in Rivers – Wike

    The governor of Rivers State Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has said it would be very difficult for any political party to win the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the state considering that the state is a PDP state and coupled with his achievement within his short period in office.

    Governor Wike spoke Monday while answering questions   as a guest in Channels Television morning Programme viewed from Government House Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

    Answering questions in some of the issues affecting the state and the recent conduct of the rerun election, the governor said the people of the state were determine to vote for PDP in all the constituencies in the state because of his achievement in the past few months in office.

    He said in spite of the poor allocation to the state, he was able to handle some of the road projects and completed some even when there were a lot of distractions that could made him to abandon his campaigns promises to the people.

    He noted that the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state have increase from 4 billion to N9-N10 billion, adding that if there were high rate of  insecurity in the state as being  reported  the IGR wouldn’t have increase because the investors would have run away.

    Governor Wike said:   “Why it is difficult for anybody to win us in Rivers State is because the projects I have done in my short stay in office coupled that the state is a PDP state. The civil servants are happy with us, nobody will be happy when at the end of the months they cannot take their wages home.

    “We have done a lot to fulfill over campaign promises, If you go to Borokiri where the former governor was living  at Okaki street, everybody was afraid to go there because of bad roads  but today we have fixed the road and the people are happy.

    “In Diobu axis we have a lot of bad roads before now, today we have fixed them. All the general hospitals are death, some of the health centres are not functioning.  What we are trying to do as a matter of policy is to pick one hospital each in the three senatorial districts and equip them.

    “We are also going to train and retrain our doctors, for now we are focusing on health and education. We don’t want to carry all at the same time. We received 4 Billion as allocation when our salary wage is N5. 5 billion.  How do make up to pay salaries, when we took over I have IGR of 4-5 billion but I speak to you we have improved in our IGR to   N9-N10 billion.

    “Which means nobody is running away from the state, because if people were leaving the state our IGR would not increase. And  if the insecurity is much as is being claimed, why is our IGR increasing yet if you read on the pages of newspapers people will say Rivers of blood.”

    Wike who vowed not to venture into completion of the monorail project said Rivers people and stakeholders have told him to forget about the project and focus on the project that has direct meaning on the lives of the people of the state.

    He said the monorail project which he claimed has no meaning on the lives of the people have consumed over N45 billion, stressing further that he does not want to have headache speaking on monorail issue which he described as an elephant project.

    On the issue of insecurity in the state, governor Wike accused the Minister of Transportation Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of trying to destabilize the state through his desperation to capture Rivers State even when it is clear to him that his party cannot win PDP in the state.

    He said if President Mohammadu Buhari supports him there is no reason why he cannot achieve peace and stability in the state.

    But he regretted that continue changing of his security chiefs would jeopardize his plan to tackle the security challenges in the state because there was no time for security chiefs to strategize and plan on how to deal with the pressing issue.

    “The continue removal of the Commissioner of Police (CP) the Director of State Security Service (DSS) and other security chiefs in the state is to frustrate our effort. Of course, the Minister is behind this, and people are saying we should reconcile, in what way?

    “That means if I reconcile with him they would not be removing my security chiefs that was why I said we are personalizing this, it shouldn’t be.  If there is need that we should come together to talk, but we should not be desperate to take over the state.  As far as I am concern, I don’t want to assert that kind of responsibility.

    “But the issue of security  is not political, we are fighting to stop this situation and  there is a system trying to desterilize the state by removing the Commissioner of Police at all time, this is man who has serve as governor for eight years and speaker for eight years what has the state not done for him.”

    “As far as I am concern the Federal government should support me by leaving the security chief for quite some time to strategies and plan for the security problem in the state.  The only problem we have with the election is for the umpire to say we must be fair to all. Security people should not be use to manipulate the process.

    “INEC should stop employing those who in one way or the other have interest in political party that is the way we can maintain peace. The security should always protest the people and the materials and not to involve in the manipulation of the process.”

    “For me what I see is the desperation to take over Rivers. There are certain things I shouldn’t say because it has to do with security but it must not be business as usual. We are telling the security personnel to go all out against the cultists and kidnappers that is why I don’t think there is any state that is investing what we are investing in security in Rivers State.”

     

  • Rivers APC consoles NYSC on death of corps member

    Rivers APC consoles NYSC on death of corps member

    The members of the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have paid a condolence visit to the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Johnson Bamidele, on the unfortunate death of a corps member, Okonta Samuel Dumebi, during last Saturday’s legislative reruns.

    The corps member, who was an ad hoc member of staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was an orphan from Illah, Delta State, but killed on March 19 in Ahoada West LGA of Rivers state, during the elections.

    The APC’s delegation to NYSC, which was led by the Rivers governorship candidate of the party during the April 11 last year’s poll, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, was received by the Director, Corps Welfare, Mrs. Rhode Kwaki, other directors and staff of the NYSC.

    Peterside, who is also the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), stated that the APC members from Rivers state were at the NYSC’s headquarters in Abuja to condole with the DG and other officials of NYSC, as well as the family of the deceased.

    The APC chieftain (Peterside) said: “We are pained at this irreparable loss and more pained that it happened in our dear state. It is a shame on our country and we feel that sense of loss like you. Our prayers are with you and the family of Okonta Samuel Dumebi.”

    The NIMASA boss also berated the Rivers Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for threatening INEC officials before the March 19 elections, which he insisted led to the avoidable death of the orphan, describing the corps member as a victim of Wike’s hate speeches and viciousness.

    The deceased was also described as a young man with dreams and patriotism, who demonstrated his desire to contribute his quota to the development of Nigeria, assuring that the country would remember him for a long time to come.

    Peterside, a former member of the House of Representatives, also promised that the APC in Rivers would join hands with the NYSC to bring an end to the recurring violence and deaths of young Nigerians, insisting that elections should not be avenues for people to lose their lives.

    Kwaki, who represented the DG of NYSC, stated that officials of the corps were saddened by the gruesome murder of the young man.

    The NYSC’s director also lauded the APC’s delegation for the visit, stressing that the officials were now encouraged by the support and show of solidarity by the politicians.

    The Rivers APC Chairman, Chief Davies Ikanya; the deputy governorship candidate of the party in the April 11 last year’s election, Asita Honourable; and some faithful of the party were part of the delegation.

  • Stop Rivers political crisis, Yakasai urges FG

    Stop Rivers political crisis, Yakasai urges FG

    Alhaji  Tanko Yakasai, former Adviser on National Assembly Matters to ex-President Shehu Shagari,  has urged the Federal Government to intervene in the political crisis rocking Rivers state, stating that if urgent steps are not taken, it may snowball into the kind of political crisis that greeted the Western Region in 1965.

    Yakasai who spoke in Kano Friday also warned that the spate of killings, accusations and counter-accusations that characterized the Rivers state election rerun does not speak well of the nation’s democracy.

    According to him, imposition of emergency rule in Rivers state for whatsoever reason will not augur well in the present situation, adding that there was need for the presidency to discourage individuals from using security operatives to intimidate the masses or impose their will on the electorate.

    According to him, way back in 1965, “it was a similar trend in the West that people in power at the centre at that time tried to use the power of incumbency to deny the Action Group victory in the West that gradually transcended into killing and mayhem by political opponents.  They resorted to killing one another by pouring acid on their political opponents in order to kill or disfigure them.”

    He also traced the 1966 coup to the political crises in the West at that time and warned against a replay of such occurrence, pointing out that, “1966 coup was a single act that destroyed political stability of Nigeria and sow the seed of successive political crises which denied the nation the ability to match forward.”

    He recalled that after the 2015 general election in which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost power at the centre and gained control of some states in the South-South and South-East, some PDP leaders alleged plot by the All Progressive Congress (APC)-controlled Federal Government to seize control of the areas where PDP managed to win.

    “After the last election and the PDP gained control of the states in that region, allegations were made that APC leaders were scheming to use election petition tribunal to deny them their victory. And true to the PDP accusation, most of the election results in those states won by the party were nullified by the election tribunals. It was only the action of the Supreme Court that reversed the situation and save the peace in that area in particular and the nation at large,” he added.

    According to him, “it was alleged that a scheme was hatched to use election tribunal by the APC to take control of the state’s PDP managed to control power. True to that allegation, the election tribunal cancelled gubernatorial elections in more than half of the state’s PDP managed to gain control.”

    “After last year’s general elections where PDP lost power, the party managed to win control of some strategic states. A lot of them are in the South-South, this area is where we have the largest deposit of crude oil in our country and it is where large chunk of foreign investment is concentrated,” he added.

    He said there was need for the Independent Electoral Commission to ensure that when next it will conduct the rerun election in the remaining area in Rivers state, electoral official that should be sent to conduct the rerun election must be people with no partisan inclination. If that is done, there will not be any need of sending thousands of security forces to maintain peace during the election.

    “A true democracy is when the minority will have their say and the majority will have their way. So, what I want to say is that a democracy without a strong opposition does not work out. I will like to appeal to those in control of the federal authority not to allow over ambitious politicians to manipulate them to achieve their political objectives,” he added.

    He also reminded the Federal Government of the impending consequences should states such as Rivers and Bayelsa would be allowed to delve into political crisis, noting that, “with the huge presence of foreign investors in that state, particularly in the oil and gas industry, it will be of huge consequence for Nigeria if crisis erupts from those areas because the foreign investors will not be happy. Their property and installations will not be safe and it will not be a good omen for our economy, which is already in trouble.”

    Yakasai also stated that with the battle against Boko Haram yet to be won, given another opportunity for groups like the Niger-Delta militants whose operation almost crippled the economy during the regime of late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua will spell doom for the country.

    He added that, “although considerable success has been recorded in the military campaign against Book Haram tactless killings; to provoke a new insurgency in the Niger-Delta area in the name of imposing unpopular leadership in Rivers state or any place in that area will be unrewarding.”

     

  • Police Sergeant, one other killed by hoodlums in Rivers

    Police Sergeant, one other killed by hoodlums in Rivers

    Unknown gunmen Thursday killed a Police Sergeant Sunday Adoga, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.

    Also killed by the suspected criminals was a man whose identity was yet to be known. He was hit by stray bullet.

    The state Police command confirmed the deaths.

    The Police spokesman, Ahmad Mohammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the hoodlums laid ambush and opened fire on Adoga’s patrol Van, killing him on the spot.

    The incident reportedly happened between Garrison and waterlines junction between 9 and 10 am. The Police have vowed that the perpetrators of the dastardly act will never go scot-free, although they are yet to be apprehended.

    The statement by Mohammad said, “We are deeply saddened by the senseless killings of Sgt. Sunday Adoga, and the other innocent citizen, who were ambushed at different locations by the marauding gang Thursday, along Garrison and waterlines junctions.

    “Sadly, today’s event once again demonstrated the profound danger our men face and witness in daily bases. Police officers put their lives on the line every day to confront crime and violence in our communities and society at large.

    “As for the criminals, they can run but it’s just a matter of time, we will caught up with them and bring them to justice.”

    The incident Thursday led to commuters and motorists in the area of crime to scamper for safety as the gunmen shot sporadically, between the busy Garrison and waterlines area of Port Harcourt/Aba road. Both passengers and motorists reportedly abandoned their vehicles and ran for their lives.

    Some of the passengers who were close to the scene of crime jumped through bus windows some of them sustained injuries especially on their legs and arms. They thought the boys invaded the INEC office which is close to the waterline junction, where the Police officer was reportedly killed.

    One of the passengers who narrated his ordeal to the Nation said, “We boarded the coaster vehicle at Park, going to Eleme junction. When we got to close to Garrison junction we began to hear sound of gunshots, before we got there (Garrison), we noticed that vehicles ahead of us had all parked and none was coming from Waterline area. We also parked, after a while, the sound dowsed and movement continued.

    “When we got to waterlines we saw boys with guns alighted from a bus, and began to shoot, carelessly, everybody began to look for escape route, passengers, drivers; private car owners abandoned the vehicles and ran. I jumped through the coaster window other followed, i ran into a small hideout everybody came and fail on me, I am now in serious pain.

    “A policeman and another man were killed by the suspected hoodlums,” he said.