Crime

Gunmen kill Nigerian police officers in southern oil hub: Police

1 Mins read

Police stations and security checkpoints targeted in River State amid deteriorating security in the country.

Security forces fired back at the attackers killing at least two of them, police said [File: Olamikan Gbemiga/AP]
Security forces fired back at the attackers killing at least two of them, police said

Gunmen have killed at least seven Nigerian police officers in a night of attacks in the southern oil hub of Rivers State, police said on Saturday.

The attackers opened fire on a checkpoint on Friday evening, then drove on to hit two police stations, the statement said. Officers fired back, killing two of the raiders and injuring some of the others who escaped in a stolen car, police added

The killings came amid deteriorating security in Rivers State – whose capital, Port Harcourt, is the gateway to the oil-rich Niger Delta region – and other parts of Africa’s largest crude exporter.

Last month, Rivers State banned people from crossing its borders at night in a bid to stop killings of police, customs officers, civil defence officers and soldiers.

On Friday, the armed men drove up in two Toyota Hilux vans at 19:30 GMT and killed two officers at a checkpoint at Choba Bridge, police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni said in a statement.

The gunmen then killed two more officers and set fire to a patrol car at Rumuji police station, Omoni added. Police fired back there and killed two of the attackers, he said.

The remaining assailants then hit Elimgbu police station, killing three officers before fleeing under fire from police, the statement added. The men escaped “with various degrees of gunshot wounds” in a stolen car, Omoni said.

The attackers stole five assault rifles, and police had launched a manhunt, he added.

Nigeria’s parliament last week called on the presidency, armed forces and police to address mounting insecurity, with the lower house urging President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency.

Since December, bandits have kidnapped more than 700 people from schools in the northwest, armed groups have killed scores of soldiers and civilians in the northeast and kidnapping and crime have increased nationwide.

   

About author
Time Nigeria is a general interest Magazine with its headquarters in Abuja, the nation’s Capital.
Articles
Related posts
BankingCover StoryCrimeNews

"We Were Forced To Write Under Duress," Journalists Reveal In GTBank Cyberstalking Trial

2 Mins read
It should be noted that the House of Representatives recently launched an investigation into allegations of corruption, falsification of financial reports, and…
Abuja FileAll The NewsAnalysisBankingBusinessCover StoryCrimeNews

GTCO, Other 9 Banks Face Heavy Fines Amid Regulatory Scrutiny

2 Mins read
GTBank’s infractions were not limited to Nigeria. The bank was also fined in Ghana and Rwanda for similar breaches of foreign exchange…
Cover StoryCrimeNews

Shady Land Deals Plague Iddo-Ojesa Community in Kogi State

2 Mins read
Land dispute, a persistent threat to Nigeria’s socio-economic development, has severe consequences for individuals, communities, and the nation. The Land Use Act…
Stay on the loop!

Subscribe to our latest news.

Leave a Reply

WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com