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HomeNationalPirates ambush police escort, abduct two civilians in Rivers

Pirates ambush police escort, abduct two civilians in Rivers

Gunmen suspected to be pirates have ambushed four policemen on escort duty along the waterways at Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State.

It was gathered the two civilians on the escort were whisked away by the gunmen while four AK47 rifles belonging to the police operatives were declared missing.

Three of the missing rifles reportedly sank in the river when the policemen dived into the water to escape the attack while the hoodlums rounded up one of the policemen, who lacked swimming skills and seized his rifle.

It was learnt the policemen were escorting the civilians to one of the coastal communities in the area when the gunmen numbering about 12 struck and opened fire on them.

A senior police officer, who spoke in confidence, confirmed the incident but said the four policemen came from the Special Protective Unit, (SPU) base in Benin-City Edo State.

He said they were escorting a VIP identified as Malvin Thompson and his uncle, Festus Atline when the hoodlums ambushed them.

He said the attack occurred between Degema and Bakana communities, confirming that while three of the policemen escaped into the river, a sergeant identified as Uche Eneh who could not swim, was beaten and dumped in the river by the hoodlums, who took the his rifle and abducted the two victims.

He gave the serial numbers of the missing rifles as 52-2404262, 1999 AGC 0231, 52-2518603, and 1999AGB1245 adding that the police deployed local divers to help in the recovery of arms.

He said: “While travelling on a passenger speedboat, they ran into an ambush of a gang of 12 sea pirates operating on two gunboats with machine guns mounted on each boat and AK47 rifles.

“As soon as the police team entered the ambush, the hoodlums opened fire on them leading to a gun duel with the boat driver immediately abandoning his boat and jumped into the river for safety.

“Without a driver, the boat lost control and was about to capsize when three of the policemen on board, an inspector with two sergeants jumped into the river and swam to safety leaving the third sergeant who was subsequently beaten and dumped into the river.

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