Detectives of Rivers Police investigate killing of three Policemen, abduction of VIP.

Daniel Efe/Port Harcourt

Detective of the Rivers State Police Command have commenced investigation into how gunmen  ambushed a convoy of vehicles carrying yet to be identified Very Important Person (VIP), after killing three escort Policemen in Port Harcourt yesterday.

According to Eyewitnesses’ account and viral videos posted online, the incident happened at around 3p.m. on Thursday along the busy Rumuokoro flyover in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

The gunmen were said to have trailed the convoy atop the Rumuokoro flyover, intercepted the convoy shot at escorts at pointblank range, left them in their pool of blood before  kidnapping the VIP,  and zoomed  off with undisclosed sum of money.

The gunmen were said to be adorned in military combat fatigue carried out the operation acted without unchallenged even when the Special Area Police Division is about 200 metres away from the scene of incident. 

The incident sent panic among, motorists, traders in Rumuokoro Modern Market and residents of the area who scampered for safety at the sound of gunshots.

An Eyewitness said, “This afternoon, at 3 p.m yesterday, we heard gunshots from the top of the flyover. We initially believed that the shooters were security personnel because they were wearing military uniforms.

“Shooting persisted as motors at the base of the flyover were required to stop. They killed three Police officers who were escorting a prominent individual.

“They stole money from the convoy and kidnapped the prominent individual. They then entered their own vehicle and drove away.”

When our Correspondent visited the scene of the incident this morning, Friday, the corpses of the slain Policemen were already removed and same with SUV and the Hilux conveying the escorts.

Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police and the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed the incident and stated that three officers were killed .

She said the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, CP Effiong Okon has ordered full scale investigation into the incident.

Speculations are that the VIP may be a Chief executive of an Oil and Gas company based in the State.

At the time of filing this report, the true identities of the slain Policemen were not known and the command they were serving before the incident.