Gunmen kill policeman, other in Bayelsa

Unknown gunmen have killed a mobile policeman and another person in Bayelsa State. The killing of the policeman and the other person happened in two separate incidents in the state. Police authorities in Bayelsa confirmed that the mobile policeman was killed long the Akenpai 1 area of the state capital by unidentified gunmen who also stole his service rifle. Acting Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa Police Command, Mr. Rowland Eboka, said the unidentified deceased cop, was a Corporal. He said the Corporal was shot dead at about 7am on Monday on his way to work. It, was, however learnt from residents of the Akenpai Area that the deceased Mobile police Officer, who was from Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state, was shot dead at a close range. An eyewitness, who identified himself simply as Preye, said the unidentified gunmen, had laid ambush for the deceased policeman and caught him off guard as he was shot from behind. The Acting PPRO said, “Yes, It is true. He was shot dead and his rifle missing.We are making all efforts to apprehend the killers and recover the stolen weapon.” Also, unknown gunmen, suspected to be sea pirates, have killed another person in the state. Sources said the suspected pirates, numbering five, shot the victim dead in an attack on a passenger boat last Sunday along the Akassa- Yenagoa waterways. It was learnt that the bandits, who wore masks, also carted away valuables including money, handsets and the fuel line of the boat. The boat driver, however, escaped with gunshot wounds. The ill-fated boat plies between Bekekiri, a settlement in Akassa area of Brass Local Government Area, and the Swali Ultra-Modern Market in Yenagoa, the state capital. “The corpse of the victim has since been handed over to the marine police in Yenagoa. The boat owner is also receiving treatment in Yenagoa,” a source said. The police spokesman, Eboka, did not answer calls to his phone as of press time on Wednesday. But a security officer attached to a police station in the area, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident, saying that the pirates invaded the boat in the morning of Sunday.