Cultists kill 3 policemen in Rivers

PORT HARCOURT—Two operatives of the Rivers State Police Command were, yesterday, killed in an area at Borokiri, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of the state.

A source privy to the incident told Vanguard that the two police officers were attached to the Anti-Terrorism Unit of the command. The source, (names withheld) said that the security operatives were shot while attempting to foil an attack in the area by suspected cultists. It was learned that the suspected cultists had opened fire on the team of Anti-Terrorism Unit around Rex Lawson Street near Borokiri, on arrival at the place. One of the members of the team, who confirmed the attack on grounds of anonymity, said the state Commissioner of Police, Francis Odesanya, had visited the scene of the incident and directed the deployment of more troops in the area. Odesanya also ordered full investigation to unravel and prosecute the persons responsible for the crime. When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the command, Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident. He noted that the CP had also visited the area. Omoni said: “Well, investigation has been ordered. The Commissioner of Police has ordered intensive investigation into the incident. The State Criminal Investigation Department is handling the investigation.” Also, Wednesday night, suspected cultists shot dead a policeman attached to the Anti-Kidnap Unit of the state police command at the same Borokiri area. The state police image-maker, Omoni Nnamdi, who confirmed the incident said that policemen were on the trail of the cultists. Sources at Rex Lawson Waterfront, Borokiri, where the incident occurred said that the policemen engaged the cultists in a fierce gun battle. Meanwhile, residents of the area alleged that some angry policemen stormed the area, yesterday, smashing vehicles parked on some streets. The state Police Commissioner, Mr Francis Odesanya later visited the area, ordering the Criminal Investigation Department, CID, to conduct full scale investigation into the incidents. Omoni confirmed the directive from the police chief to newsmen, adding “well, investigation has been ordered, the Commissioner of Police has ordered intensive investigation into the incident. “The State Criminal Investigations Department is handling the investigation.”