BAYELSA State Police Command has continued the search for twelve of its men allegedly killed by suspected gunmen on their way to Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state.
Also, the Command has denied the involvement of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, (MEND) in the act, arguing that the threat earlier issued by MEND has nothing to do with the attack.
Briefing newsmen, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kingsley Omire said some aggrieved ex-militants that had earlier embraced Amnesty programme as put forward by the Federal Government took advantage of the malfunctioning speed-boat the policemen were travelling in to launch the attack.
“Fifty policemen set out on assignment to Azuzama. On their way, one of the boats conveying them developed engine fault. A Joint Military Task Force gunboat was moving ahead of them. They were isolated and became soft target. Intelligence report have shown that those involved in the armed attack were hoodlums within an ex-militant group that were supposed to be enjoying Amnesty,” the CP said.
Out of the 50 policemen deployed to Azuzuama community, the 12 officers were declared missing including two Police Inspectors, four Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) and six sonstables.”
On the claim of an illegal trip, the Police Commissioner said the deployment of the policemen was authorized by him to provide security to high profile visitors expected at the burial ceremony of the late mother of an ex-militant leader, Kile Selky Torughedi a.k.a Young Shall Grow.
According to him, “as I speak to you, some policemen are still at the community. It is the disabled nature of the speed boat conveying the affected policemen that made them soft targets. We had lots of gunboats and security personnel in the area. As I speak with you now, the entire Azuzuama community is condoned off.”
We Killed 12 Policemen At Azuzuama —MEND
Meanwhile, MEND has claimed responsibility for the killing of the policemen, citing the insensitivity of the Federal Government to its earlier warning as reason for its action.
Meanwhile, MEND has claimed responsibility for the killing of the policemen, citing the insensitivity of the Federal Government to its earlier warning as reason for its action.
MEND had earlier indicated resolve to resume attacks on Federal Government’s installations as a pay back for allowing its leader, Henry Okah to be jailed in South Africa.
The MEND’s spokesman, Jomo Gbomo in a statement said the attack was executed to prove its seriousness about the ‘Hurricane Exodus’ and to alert the public and the oil companies operating in the region that it meant its threat.
The group also denied an earlier statement by the ‘alternate MEND spokesman’, Commander Azizi, the new acclaimed spokesperson who it described as a fraud.
MEND in the statement said, “For dismissing Hurricane Exodus as an “empty threat” by the Nigerian security forces, heavily armed fighters from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), at about 17:00 Hrs Saturday 06, April 2013, intercepted and engaged government security forces in a fierce gunfight lasting over forty (40) minutes at Azuzama, Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
“The clash which happened in the river left over fifteen (15) security forces dead as we also lost two (2) of our fighters in the battle.
“We hope this encounter will serve as a lesson to the Joint Task Force (JTF) from making careless utterances that cannot be backed as we remain resolute in our resumption of hostilities.
Death of 12 policemen: Most tragic, shocking, disheartening —Dickson
In another development, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson has described the death policemen serving with the Bayelsa state Command as most tragic shocking and disheartening.
Death of 12 policemen: Most tragic, shocking, disheartening —Dickson
In another development, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson has described the death policemen serving with the Bayelsa state Command as most tragic shocking and disheartening.
The Bayelsa State Chief Executive, who stated this in a condolence message to the Inspector- General of Police, noted with dismay that, the incident occurred under circumstances when the affected Policemen were actively involved in their duty of service to the nation and humanity.
He noted that, the development is a constant reminder of how vulnerable we are in our collective efforts at pursuing and achieving lasting peace and unity in our State and Country.
Governor Dickson eulogized the deceased security personnel, noting that they displayed outstanding qualities in their dedication and commitment to duty as well as patriotism and willingness to sacrifice for the sake of the people.
Source:Tribune newspaper
No comments:
Post a Comment