Seven officers killed as gunmen attack police stations in Rivers

Gunmen have killed seven police officers in Rivers state.

Nnamdi Omoni, Rivers police spokesman, confirmed the incident on Saturday.

He said the attack occurred on Friday night at two police stations and a checkpoint, adding that vehicles belonging to the Rivers command were also set ablaze.

Two of the attackers were also said to have been shot dead.

“The incident which led to the death of seven Policemen occurred last night at about 2030hrs, where unknown gunmen driven in two branded Hilux vans, attacked the special checkpoint at Choba bridge, where in a surprise attack, killed two Policemen on duty and set ablaze a private car belonging to one of the Policemen,” Omoni said in a statement.

“A similar attack was launched at Rumuji Police Station by the same hoodlums who killed two Policemen on duty and burnt a Police patrol vehicle. However, a stiff resistance by the Police prevented the hoodlums from gaining access into the Police station. In the course of exchange of fire, two of the attackers were fatally wounded and died on the spot.

“The third attack at Elimgbu Police Station was equally resisted by the Police, though three officers were killed in that attack, but the serious fire engagement made them to abandon their bullet riddled Hilux van, while they escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds with a snatched Sienna bus.

“The continued engagement by the Police, also forced them to abandon the Sienna car they were using to escape at the Refinery junction, while their remnants again escaped with bullet wounds.”

The police spokesman added that the corpses of the deceased officers have been deposited in the mortuary, and calm has returned to the area.

He also noted that Eboka Friday, Rivers police commissioner, has launched an investigation into the incident, while a police team is currently on the trail of the attackers.

“It is pertinent to note, that in all three attacks carried out last night, no Police Station/formation was burnt. Regrettably, a total of five assault rifles were lost in the incident,” he said.

“The Public is hereby enjoined to increase their security consciousness and report any person or persons with gun wounds to the nearest Police Station.”

Despite a curfew imposed in Rivers to forestall such attacks, the latest incident comes days after nine security operatives of the army, police and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) were killed at various checkpoints around the state.