Yenagoa —
Emotions ran high, yesterday, at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa Bayelsa
State, as the remains of 11 out of the 12 policemen killed last Friday were
deposited at the hospital’s morgue.
Emotions ran high, yesterday, at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa Bayelsa
State, as the remains of 11 out of the 12 policemen killed last Friday were
deposited at the hospital’s morgue.
The combined team of soldiers drawn from
the Joint Task Force, JTF, and operatives of the Nigeria Police, yesterday,
recovered the burnt and decomposed bodies of the slain policemen along the
creeks of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.
the Joint Task Force, JTF, and operatives of the Nigeria Police, yesterday,
recovered the burnt and decomposed bodies of the slain policemen along the
creeks of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.
Some of the recovered bodies were reportedly
burnt and mutilated by their killers who also stripped them of their uniforms
and rifles during the attack.
burnt and mutilated by their killers who also stripped them of their uniforms
and rifles during the attack.
Security
sources identified some of the victims as Senior Inspector Joseph Ofujuni,
Constable Ebebi Lucky, aged 31 and an indigene of Isama in Delta State and one
simply identified as Sgt Jack from Rivers State. The identities of others could
not be obtained at press time. One of the three survivors was identified as Sgt
Clinton Ambayi.
sources identified some of the victims as Senior Inspector Joseph Ofujuni,
Constable Ebebi Lucky, aged 31 and an indigene of Isama in Delta State and one
simply identified as Sgt Jack from Rivers State. The identities of others could
not be obtained at press time. One of the three survivors was identified as Sgt
Clinton Ambayi.
The senior inspector, it was learnt, was due for
retirement before the end of the year.
retirement before the end of the year.
The news of the recovery of the decomposed
bodies of the policemen attracted a crowd of family members and sympathizers to
the FMC waterside.
bodies of the policemen attracted a crowd of family members and sympathizers to
the FMC waterside.
Armed security operatives deployed to the area
to provide security for the pathologists and ambulance vehicles stationed at
the waterside to convey the recovered corpses to the morgue had problem
controlling the surging crowd that besieged the area. Scores of youths, women
and relations of the slain policemen were seen waiting at the FMC waterside.
to provide security for the pathologists and ambulance vehicles stationed at
the waterside to convey the recovered corpses to the morgue had problem
controlling the surging crowd that besieged the area. Scores of youths, women
and relations of the slain policemen were seen waiting at the FMC waterside.
The corpses which were ferried to Yenagoa in a
boat arrived the Ministry of Transportation jetty at about 6.45pm and bagged
before they were conveyed in two Bayelsa State Ambulance Services’ buses to the
FMC morgue.
boat arrived the Ministry of Transportation jetty at about 6.45pm and bagged
before they were conveyed in two Bayelsa State Ambulance Services’ buses to the
FMC morgue.
Journalists were barred from getting close to
the ambulances and some had shouting match with the policemen who insisted that
they were working on instruction from above.
the ambulances and some had shouting match with the policemen who insisted that
they were working on instruction from above.
Police confirm recovery
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr.
Alex Akhigbe, confirmed that the bodies of the slain policemen had been
recovered and moved to the mortuary of the Federal Medical Centre.
Alex Akhigbe, confirmed that the bodies of the slain policemen had been
recovered and moved to the mortuary of the Federal Medical Centre.
He said: “Yes, the corpses of the slain
policemen have been recovered and brought to Yenagoa.”
policemen have been recovered and brought to Yenagoa.”
Speaking on the development, the Media
Coordinator of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu said the JTF, in
a collaborative effort with the police, assisted in the search and rescue
operation, noting “we successfully recovered their bodies.”
Coordinator of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu said the JTF, in
a collaborative effort with the police, assisted in the search and rescue
operation, noting “we successfully recovered their bodies.”
Meantime, the identity of the leader of the team
of aggrieved ex-militant youths accused of launching the attack on the
policemen have been identified as Virus. According to sources, he was the
‘Commanding Officer’ of the dismantled camp of the ex-militant leader, Kile
Selky Torughedi aka Young Shall Grow.
of aggrieved ex-militant youths accused of launching the attack on the
policemen have been identified as Virus. According to sources, he was the
‘Commanding Officer’ of the dismantled camp of the ex-militant leader, Kile
Selky Torughedi aka Young Shall Grow.
How the policemen were attacked
Contrary to claims that the speedboat in which
the policemen were travelling developed engine problem which made them easy
targets for the attack, a security source who pleaded anonymity said the boat
did not have any problem. The attack, the source said, occurred at Lobia 11
narrow waterway.
the policemen were travelling developed engine problem which made them easy
targets for the attack, a security source who pleaded anonymity said the boat
did not have any problem. The attack, the source said, occurred at Lobia 11
narrow waterway.
Source: Vanguard
