perpetually shortchanged by their leaders, former militants in the creek
unleashed mayhem in the early hours of Saturday, killing 13 policemen in
Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The death of the policemen followed a threat to
resume hostilities by midnight of Friday from the Movement for the Emancipation
of Niger Delta (MEND) to the Federal Government over complaints that their
leaders on the amnesty programme had consistently shortchanged them over funds
released as their monthly emoluments.
The policemen, it was learnt, were killed at a
burial ceremony by suspected former militants whose identities are yet to be
known.
They were said to have been shot severally and
abandoned in the pool of their blood, a development that disrupted the burial
programme.
Out of fear of being hit by stray bullets, many of
the villagers scampered into their houses, the community was thrown into panic.
Sunday Tribune’s check revealed that the trouble
started when the former militants were agitating for their money, alleged to
have been used by one of their leaders to organise the burial of his late
father.
It was learnt that among the killed policemen were
sergeants, one of whom was said to have been identified as Jack, and others in
the rank and file.
In the meantime, the killing of the policemen has
caused panic among policemen posted to Southern Ijaw localities, even as men of
the state police command were seen in groups discussing the development.
It was, however, learnt that the command’s B
Operations Department had dispatched another team of policemen to the scene of
the crime to recover the corpses of the slain policemen.
Sunday Tribune’s findings showed that the fear
precipitated by the killing of the policemen had spread to the state capital,
Yenagoa.
Reacting, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of
Police, Kingsley Omire, at a press briefing, confirmed the incident. He said 15
policemen were on official assignment before they were ambushed by the
ex-militants. He, however, denied that 13 members were killed saying four
policemen were rescued while 11 were still missing and that they were on top of
the situation.
