Gunmen ambush Police patrol team, 5 officers missing

dimeji akinloye

May 27, 2016 7:38 PM

He said six of the officers were initially missing, but one of them, an inspector, Aferuan Imoukhuede, was rescued on Thursday.

Nigerian policemen

Five policemen have been declared missing in

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ahmad Muhammad, disclosed this on Thursday, May 27, explaining that the incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday.

He said six of the officers were initially missing, but one of them, an inspector, Aferuan Imoukhuede, was rescued on Thursday.

“The Rivers state police command has announced the missing of five policemen who along with other colleagues were ambushed in the early hours of Wednesday 25/05/2016 at the Okujagu community, Okrika local government area,” Muhammad said in a statement.

“The policemen went to Okujagu community on a routine police inquiry when they were ambushed by unknown gunmen before they could disembark from the boat that ferried them, they were bombarded with a barrage of heavy gunfire which forced them to scamper for cover.

“By the time the firing ended, six policemen comprising two inspectors and four other rank and file could not be accounted for but a day after Inspector Aferuan Imoukhuede, who was among the missing policemen, was rescued.

“Sting operations by the command are still on the top gear to rescue the remaining five missing policemen. Fifty-three suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident and are currently undergoing interrogation,” he said.

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Muhammad said 53 suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, adding that a high-powered investigative panel has been set up to carry out a thorough investigation on the incident.

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