Policeman, Gunmen Killed In Gun Duel

Policeman, attached to Bayelsa State security outfit,  codenamed Operation Doo Akpo and  two gunmen suspected to be militants, have been killed in a gun duel.

It was learnt that the suspected militants allegedly attacked a patrol van of the security outfit resulting in a gun battle between them.

It was also learnt that two of the militants, overwhelmed by the firepower of Doo Akpo,  lost their lives in the confrontation.

Also, in a separate incident, gunmen operating on a speedboat have kidnapped four employees of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company.

The two incidents were said to have occurred on Monday in Nembe and Southern Ijaw local government areas of Bayelsa.

The attack that led to the death of the policeman was said to have happened at about 5pm in Opiama, Nembe LGA.

The slain policeman, a sergeant, who was identified as Mathew Simon, was said to have been hit by the assailants’ bullets.

It was further learnt that the patrol van was drafted to guard workers constructing the Ogbia-Nembe Road.

Though the mission of the gunmen were unclear, a security source hinted that they must have arrived the area to abduct some of the workers.

He recalled that some of the workers constructing the road were kidnapped in a similar way in 2014.

The source, who did not want to be mentioned, said, “This time around, they were not successful as the policemen engaged them in a gun duel. One of the policemen died. However, police claimed that they killed two of the militants.”

The source also said the policemen claimed that the suspected militants escaped with the dead bodies of their two colleagues in the duel.

On the Southern Ijaw incident, the four abducted Agip workers were said to have been taken to an unknown place in the creeks by gunmen.

It was gathered that the workers were travelling on a speedboat from Amassomma to Ogoimbiri, all in Southern Ijaw area.

“Their speedboat was double-crossed by gun-wielding men who shot sporadically into the air to frighten them. The gunmen took them into their boat and zoomed off. Our river is a death trap,” the security source said.

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, said he had yet to get details of the incident.