Police allege IPOB invaded Four Police Stations, kill 2 Police Officers in Rivers, plus photos

*Damaged 15 vehicles, including one Armoured Personnel Carrier, arrested 8 suspects

BY IBRAHIM BAKARE

Rivers State Police Command has confirmed that about 500 hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) attacked Four Police Stations in Rivers State on Wednesday, October 21.

Photos of the remains of Police Stations in Rivers State and vehicles burnt by suspected IPOB members on Wednesday October 21.

The Command said that “at about 9.30pm members of IPOB invaded the Oyigbo Area Command, Oyigbo and Afam Police Stations, setting them ablaze and damaging about fifteen vehicles, including one Armored Personnel Carrier (APC).

The attackers killed two Police Officers  and some arms and ammunition carted away.

According to a press statement signed by SP Nnamdi Omoni, the Command’s Police Pubic Relations Officer, PPRO, said  also that in another attack at the Mile One Police Station, the same rampaging IPOB members who operated under the guise of #ENDSARS Protests made frantic attempt at burning the Mile One Police Station and the office of Eagle Crack Squad but were however repelled by the superior fire power of the Police, as three of them were killed in the exchange of gunfire, while eight (8) of them were arrested and immediately transferred to State CID where they are currently helping in our investigation.

Police assured that they have been able to stabilize the Command, though there are still pockets of threats from their remnants at the fringe communities in Oyigbo Local Government Area but no stone will be left unturned till they are arrested and brought to justice.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph G. Mukan,  appealed to the good people of Rivers State to remain calm and religiously obey the curfew imposed by the State Government, which may though have its attendant inconveniences but however made in good faith and in the overall interest of the citizenry.

The Police also assured that so far adequate deployments have been made to cover all the flashpoints and ensure that the hoodlums are kept at arm’s length, while appealing to parents and guardians to warn their children to remain law abiding or else the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on them.

The Statement said that the Rivers State has in recent times enjoyed fragile peace which the Police are poised to sustaining. 
“For all intents and purposes, the State is bigger than anybody or group, hence we must all strive to entrench lasting peace in the State. The #ENDSARS protests and the Consequential Demands are being addressed by both the Federal and State Governments.

The Command warned that any attempt to undermine the security of the State will be resisted as  the constitutional duty of the Police to protect lives and property is sacrosanct and must be carried out in a most professional manner.

The public is hereby enjoined to report any perceived security threat to the following dedicated lines; i. 08032003514 ii. 08098880134 iii. 08033825393 iv. 08033396538