Blessing Iruoma, Port Harcourt
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has described as ‘barbaric’, the dastardly attack on security personnel along Omagwa/Isiokpo/Elele Owerri Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.
The governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, on Sunday evening, said there was no justification for such a heinous and condemnable attack targeted against innocent security personnel on legitimate duty of protecting life and property in the state.
The governor was quoted as saying, “The Government of Rivers State is saddened by the unwarranted callous attack on security personnel. We offer our sympathies to the relatives of those who lost their lives in the attack.
“We condemn this heinous act, share the grief of the security agencies and convey our sincere condolences.”
The governor, who charged the security agencies to be vigilant, affirmed that “the Government and people of Rivers State stands in solidarity with security agencies at this difficult times of this unwarranted and mindless violence”.
Governor Wike has, therefore, demanded that the perpetrators of the attack must be fished out and brought to justice.
Recalled that early hours of Sunday, unknown gunmen had attacked and killed eight security operative on duty along Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered that the security men killed at their various checkpoints, were three soldiers, three Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) personnel and two Policemen.
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The Nigerian Xpress further learned that the perpetrators, carted away the rifles belonging to the security personnel and burnt an operational vehicle belonging to the Customs in Elele, while the soldiers along Omagwa were allegedly beheaded.
The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident.
Omoni, who declined comment on the number of casualty, said information at his disposal was sketchy, adding that normalcy has returned in the area.
In a statement made available to journalists, Omoni said, “I can confirm the attack on security Personnel along the Omagwa/Isiokpo/Elele Owerri Road. Details sketchy”.
He said police boss in the state had launched a full scale investigation into the dastardly attack with a view to arresting the perpetrators and bringing them to justice.
“Meanwhile, area is calm with reinforced and increased joint patrols of that stretch and other areas in the state by the security agencies”.