Unknown gunmen suspected to be sea pirates killed two marine policemen and injured another in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in the early hours of Tuesday.
The gunmen also reportedly made away with two 200-HP engines on the gunboats belonging to the police.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Butswat Asinmi, who disclosed this, said the state Commissioner of Police, Amba Asuquo had confirmed the attack.
Asinmi however declined to give the names of the slain policemen, saying the police had not contacted the families of the slain officers.
According to him, “Even before the attack, we have our surveillance and patrol along the waterway, but the nature of Bayelsa which is almost 80% river makes it a bit difficult for us to cover the terrain effectively. But we seek for partnership and cooperation of the members of the public most especially members of the maritime workers union to volunteer useful information to us.
“Most of these criminals stay within their community as their neighbours. They should endeavour to volunteer useful information to us concerning some of these hoodlums that are living within their community.”
Chairman, Bayelsa State chapter of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Lyodd Sese, who also confirmed the incident, said the gunmen stormed the area at about Monday night and operated till about 1:30 Tuesday morning.
Police authorities are yet to confirm the latest attack as violent crimes have increased in the region since the beginning of 2018 as political activities get underway.
