Residents of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital woke up Wednesday morning with the news of shooting to death of two police officers serving at the Mile One Police Station in Diobu, Port Harcourt.
The sad development is coming less than four months after Governor Nyesom Wike lifted a state-wide curfew imposed in April, 2021 following series of attacks on security personnel across the state by yet to be apprehended gunmen.
Even as the unknown gunmen have continued their ignoble activities especially in the South East region, residents in Rivers State have breathed fresh air following Governor Wike’s security strategies which paid off amid months of peace and tranquility.
However, the peaceful atmosphere was short-lived on Tuesday night when daredevil criminals came knocking again, snuffing life out of two policemen who mounted a stop and search operation at the Ntanwogba Bridge along Okija Street, less than one kilometer to the Mile One Police Station.
An eye witness told National Networkthat the gunmen who were inside a vehicle, swooped on the Police Officers and shot at the them.
The witness, who said the policemen were taken unawares, added that the victims died on the spot while their rifles were taken away by the criminals.
Our source further added that the gunmen, who were four in number, may have hired the vehicle used for the operation because, according to him, after killing the cops, they hijacked a Sienna vehicle at gun point, and made their escape with it.
Meanwhile, the Spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, SP Nnamdi Omoni has confirmed the attack.
His words, “I can confirm the attack on our men posted to Okija Street on stop and search by unknown gunmen last night. Two police officers were killed. Investigation has been ordered by the CP.
“One Toyota Corolla with Reg. No. Rivers APU 380 AW used by the attackers was abandoned. One AK47 rifle belonging to one of the officers carted away”.
