Suspected crude oil thieves yesterday 19th of September, attacked a Police checkpoint and Police Divisional headquarters in Kolo Community of Ogbia Local Government Area Council of Bayelsa State, killing a Police Sergeant and carting away his service rifle.
Also injured in the attack were a Police corporal and two Civilians from the Kolo and Oloibiri communities of Ogbia Local Council.
Gist Me Now gathered that the incident, which occurred at about 8pm on Monday, sparked confusion in the community with indigenes and Policemen attached to the Kolo Divisional headquarters scampering for safety.
While a community source said that the attackers, numbering Four and armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, were stopped for a stop-and-search operation at the checkpoint by policemen and a discovery of bunkered kerosene was discovered in their vehicle.
Others claimed the attacked checkpoint, being operated by the Kolo Divisional Police, was known for the alleged illegal collection of bribes from suspected illegal bunkers passing through the area and the attack was due to arguments on the amount demanded by the policemen.
we also gathered that the attackers came down from the vehicle and shot dead the Policeman and attack the injured corporal with a machete,” the other two policemen took to their heels and ran into the Police station. The boys chased them into the station but left without further attack.”
An indigene of the community, who tried to assist the police, was also attacked with a machete.
Confirming the incident, the authorities of the Bayelsa State Police Command through its spokesperson, Astim Butswat, confirmed that the police sergeant was killed, and his firearm stolen.
According to his Statement, ” the Bayelsa state command wishes to use this medium to inform the general public that on 4th of September,2017 at about 2030hrs, policemen on vehicular patrol along Kolo 2 in Ogbia Local Government area were attacked by unknown gunmen”
” Based on a tip-off the policemen intercepted a vehicle conveying suspected militants. Two of the suspects were arrested and handcuffed but resisted any attempt by policemen to search their vehicle in the ensuing uproar, members of the community gathered around the vehicle and rescued the arrested suspect, and the policemen were attacked.”
” The Command regrettably lost a police sergeant and arms a police corporal and a civilian were injured and are responding to treatment in the hospital. Members of the Public are advised to assist the police in fighting crime rather than compound police investigations as the crowd was partly responsible for the attack on the policemen.”
