Pirates kill two policemen, injure ASP in Bayelsa

Gunmen, suspected to be pirates, have killed two policemen and injured another cop, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, in a gun duel in Bayelsa State.

It was learnt that the incident occured around 2am on Tuesday at Ogbia waterside, in the Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

In the end, two policemen attached to the waterside base were reportedly found dead.

Two police rifles and a 200-horsepower engine boat, belonging to the Ogbia LGA, were said to have been stolen by the gunmen.

The leader of the marine team reportedly sustained gunshot injuries and was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in the state for treatment.

It was gathered that the gunmen fled with their members who were injured.

A police source described the exchange of gunfire as massive, noting that a G3 magazine, with 17 live cartridges, was recovered from the pirates.

The source said, “Eighteen expended cartridges were picked at the scene. The hoodlums came to steal the General Multipurpose Gun. It is a big gun mounted on a boat. But the policemen protected it with their lives.”

The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Asuquo Amba, who confirmed the incident, said the police were combing the creeks to locate the criminals.

Describing how the attack was carried out, Amba said, “Around 2am on Tuesday, some suspected sea pirates that came in with two boats from different directions attacked our men who were anchored at Marine Base at Ogbia and obviously, there was exchange of gunfire.

“We tried to be as defensive as possible.

“In the cause of doing that, we lost two policemen who were shot in action and they (hoodlums) were able to make away with two of our rifles and a 200-horsepower engine belonging to the Ogbia Local Government Area.

“We were able to recover a G3 magazine, which was used by them, as well as 17 live cartridges, and expended ammunition. The firing was not from one direction. It was from separate directions.

“Prior to this time, we had secured our GMP gun, which I think was one of the main things they were looking for. So, they could not steal it and that was why we lost two policemen in action and the officer that led the team, an ASP, was equally injured and is recovering.”

The CP said the police had curtailed the activities of sea pirates in the state, but explained that a recent intelligence report showed a resurgence of the criminality.

Amba said he had visited the scene of the incident in company with other senior police officers, assuring the people that the police would fish out the killers.