The River State Police Command on Friday declared five policemen missing after an ambush by unknown gunmen on Wednesday at Okujagu waterways in Okrika Local Government Area.
Spokesman for the police command, Mr. Ahmad Muhammad, said in a statement, that the policemen were on an official mission to the area when they unexpectedly came under gun attack.
“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,” he said.
Six policemen, comprising two inspectors and four other officers initially got missing but one – Inspector Aferuan Imoukhuede – was rescued a day after.
The police spokesman said: “Sting operations by the command are still on 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 the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Kimo, has set up a “high-powered” investigative panel headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Investigation Department, to unravel the circumstances surrounding the entire incident.
