News reports have revealed tension in the city of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State following the murder of a senior police officer by armed man described simply as "special police squad".

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The victim identified as Mathew Akpos is reported to have been an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) before he had been gunned down by gunmen close to the OMPADEC school field in Amarata suburb at about 5pm on Monday, May 16, 2016.

Residents and eyewitnesses in the area had reportedly identified the gunmen as a “special police squad” from unknown division.

Speaking with The Nation, a resident of the community said:

“The gunmen dressed like a special police squad. They wore the outfits of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and police bulletproof vests.

“There were gunshots all over the place. I was at a supermarket directly opposite the scene of the incident. The way they drive into the community was suspicious and sent panic waves all over the place.

“But the gunshots caused commotion in the area as people even youths who were playing football abandoned the game and scampered for safety.”

Another source reveals that the gunmen had trailed the victim to the area, trying to force him into their vehicle while Akpos had resisted, pulling his gun out of its strap and shooting at of of his assailants.

He said:

“One of the gunmen who was standing close to the Hilux van immediately pulled out his gun and shot the victim who fell to the ground.

“They later packed his body into their vehicle and zoomed off. Bullets also hit an elderly woman in her 60s. She was taken to the hospital where doctors operated on her.

“We are still living in shock because we don’t know the motive behind the operation that led to the killing of a police officer by persons who looked like his colleagues."

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, when contacted had disclosed that the information at the disposal of the police was still sketchy at best.

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However, went on to reveal that investigations were ongoing to solve the mystery surrounding the incident especially following the claims that the gunmen had left the scene of the incident with the victims corpse.