Wike’s curfew, how gunmen sneaked in and killed 7 cops in Rivers

Unknown gunmen, suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and the Eastern Security Network (ESN), on Friday unleashed mayhem on three Police formations in Rivers State, killing seven Policemen and officers, with two others injured.

It was gathered that the gunmen who came in two vans, first attacked C41 patrol team at Choba, where two Policemen were killed, before heading to Rumuji and Elimgbu divisions, where five other operatives were shot dead.

Recall that the Rivers State government has emplaced a curfew in parts of the State following heightened attacks and killings of security operatives.

The suspects gained entrance into the State before the curfew time.

The source said the suspects made away with Police rifles and set Police vans ablaze.

Four Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs), and four Inspectors of Police were slain in the Friday night attacks.

The identities of the affected operatives as ASP Jubril Adams, Insp. George Matthew, ASP Nelson Azuma, Insp. Friday Oyeghe, ASP Ibrahim Otteh, ASP Okoro Azuka and Insp. Bassey Paulinus.
A police source in Rivers was quoted to have said that at about 8:30p.m. on Friday, suspected IPOB/ESN members in two Hilux vans attacked C41 patrol team at Vjoba, two Policemen namely ASP Jubril Adams, Insp. George Matthew were shot dead, two AK-48 rifles snatched and their patrol van set ablaze.

“The armed men further attacked Rumuji Division killed and beheaded two officers namely ASP Nelson Azuma and Insp. Friday Oyeghe. They carted away two AK-47 rifles and set a patrol van ablaze. One Emeka Amadi, a special constabulary sustained bullet wound on his chet.

“On their way out, they were engaged by tactical teams mobilised to assist the division. They abandoned their Hilux van riddled with bullets and escaped with bullet injuries in a Sienna bus. They later attacked Elimgbu division killing ASP Ibrahim Often, ASP Okoro Azuka and Insp. Bassey Paulinus, while Sgt Oluchukwu Emehuru sustained bullet injuries.

“Four rifles were stolen. The tactical teams chased them further and they abandoned the Sienna bus with a pool of blood inside. No station was burnt. Efforts are still on to track them down, ” the Police source stated.