Four suspected oil thieves attack Police check point, kill Police Sergeant, cart away rifle in Bayelsa …# Injure Police Corporal, 2 civilians with machete

CHINEDU WOSU, YENAGOA

Four suspected crude oil thieves on Monday attacked a Police check point 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.

A Police Corporal and two civilians from Kolo and Oloibiri communities were also seriously injured in the incident.

‎It was gathered that the incident, which occurred at about 8pm on Monday, provoked confusion in the community with indigenes and Policemen attached to the Kolo Divisional headquarters scampering for safety.

An eye witness said the attackers, numbering four and armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, were flagged down for a stop and search operation at the check point by policemen and a discovery of bunkered kerosene was discovered in their vehicle.

Others claimed that the attacked check point, ‎being operated by the Kolo Divisional Police, was known for alleged illegal collection of bribes from suspected illegal bunkerers passing through the area and the attack was due to disagreement over the amount demanded by the policemen.

According to sources, when the attackers came down from their vehicle and shot dead the Policeman and attacked the Corporal, inflicting machete cuts on him,” 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 machete.

Confirming the incident, the Bayelsa State Police Command through its spokesperson, Asinim Butswat, a Deputy Superintendent of Police DSP said that the Police Sergeant was killed and his firearm stolen.

Hear him,” 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 ensuring uproar, members of the community gathered around the vehicle and rescued the arrested suspects 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.”