EX-MILITANTS KILL 13 POLICEMEN IN BAYELSA

ANGERED that they had been perpetually shortchanged by their leaders, former militants in the creek unleashed mayhem in the early hours of Saturday, killing 13 policemen in Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The death of the policemen followed a threat to resume hostilities by midnight of Friday from the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) to the Federal Government over complaints that their leaders on the amnesty programme had consistently shortchanged them over funds released as their monthly emoluments.

The policemen, it was learnt, were killed at a burial ceremony by suspected former militants whose identities are yet to be known.

They were said to have been shot severally and abandoned in the pool of their blood, a development that disrupted the burial programme.

Out of fear of being hit by stray bullets, many of the villagers scampered into their houses, the community was thrown into panic.

Sunday Tribune’s check revealed that the trouble started when the former militants were agitating for their money, alleged to have been used by one of their leaders to organise the burial of his late father.

It was learnt that among the killed policemen were sergeants, one of whom was said to have been identified as Jack, and others in the rank and file.

In the meantime, the killing of the policemen has caused panic among policemen posted to Southern Ijaw localities, even as men of the state police command were seen in groups discussing the development.

It was, however, learnt that the command’s B Operations Department had dispatched another team of policemen to the scene of the crime to recover the corpses of the slain policemen.

Sunday Tribune’s findings showed that the fear precipitated by the killing of the policemen had spread to the state capital, Yenagoa.

Reacting, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Kingsley Omire, at a press briefing, confirmed the incident. He said 15 policemen were on official assignment before they were ambushed by the ex-militants. He, however, denied that 13 members were killed saying four policemen were rescued while 11 were still missing and that they were on top of the situation.

Source: Tribune