Gunmen fired and killed two police officers and injured another along the Obiri-Kwere axis in Rivers State’s Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on Monday night.
According to reports, the three police officers were assigned to the Aluu Division in the state’s Ikwerre Local Government Area.
They were alleged to be conducting a routine stop-and-search operation at a security checkpoint on the Mbodo/Aluu axis of Obiri-Kwerre Road when the gunmen opened fire around 9 p.m.
After the shooting, the gunmen drove away in their vehicle.
The event occurred less than 24 hours after the Rivers State Police Command announced the arrest of Austine Emenike, also known as “Oyibo,” and the recovery of one locally built pistol, four single-barrel pistols, and five live cartridges.
In a statement issued on Monday, the State Police spokesperson stated that Emenike, the apprehended suspect, is part of a larger criminal network.
In the most recent occurrence, a video circulating on social media shows the policemen’ lifeless bodies still dressed in their uniforms lying in pools of their own blood.
From the video obtained by our journalist, a voice from the background revealed the gunmen were robbing in the vicinity before opening fire on the agents and instantly ran to their heels.
He stated, “You can see, it happened now. Armed robbers came here and robbed everybody. They killed these policemen. Look at their bodies.”
When asked for her comment on Tuesday, Blessing Agabe, a spokesperson for the state police command, confirmed the occurrence and stated that the inquiry is underway.
Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, further stated that the state Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, and his management team visited the location on Tuesday morning to conduct an on-the-spot assessment.
She stated, “Yes, I can confirm. Two of our men died, and the other one was injured and is receiving treatment in the Hospital.
“The Commissioner of Police, with other members of the command’s management team, visited the scene of the incident this morning to assess the situation, and the investigation is ongoing.”
