•As gunmen kill 2 policemen in Rivers
Tochukwu Aroh; Tony John, Port Harcourt
Blood has continued to flow in Kaduna State as at least eight people were killed and several others injured when bandits suspected to be cattle rustlers attacked Kurega village in Chikun Local Government Area of the state. Kurega is close to Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, which has been under heavy attack in recent times.
The state police command has confirmed the incident, and added that they are on the trail of the attackers with a view to arresting them. However, a resident of the community said that the gunmen came in large numbers and overran the village at about 2pm on Tuesday.
The resident added that the gunmen attempted to rustle cows belonging to some herders in the community. When the people tried to resist them, the gunmen started shooting at the villagers, which led to the death of eight persons, while several others sustained injuries.
One of the vigilance group leaders in the community was among the dead. The gunmen stole some cows after the attack that lasted for over two hours. The latest attack is coming barely a week after over 30 people who were travelling along the Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna road were abducted by gunmen.
Similarly, two police personnel have been killed by gunmen around Elibarawo Junction, along Ada-George Road, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
It was gathered that the assailants, who operated in a black SUV, trailed the victims who were driving a private car at about 10:12pm on Tuesday and opened fire on them. Two were killed on the spot and another sustained bullet wounds.
A witness who simply identified himself as Iyke said the killers zoomed off after executing the operation, while the wounded police officer was rushed to an undisclosed hospital before a team of policemen arrived at the scene of the shooting.
Iyke said: “I was seating with my friends in a bar near the place where the incident took place. We just saw a black Highlander Toyota double-cross a white car with policemen inside. We heard gunshots.
“When we rushed there, we saw one dead police officer lying on the ground and another dead officer was inside the vehicle, while the third officer, who sustained bullet wounds, was rushed to a nearby hospital by us. The killers just escaped before other policemen arrived the scene, that was what I saw.”
Police public relations officer in Rivers State, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed that two police officers were killed while one sustained injuries, adding that the killers’ vehicle has been identified.
He said the command would commence investigation immediately to unravel the circumstances behind the attack and apprehend those behind it.
Omoni said: “I’m aware of the killing of two police officers around Ada-George Road. Our men have identified the car that was used to carry out the attack. We have deposited the corpses at the mortuary. Investigations have commenced to track down the perpetrators of that evil act against policemen, who were on duty. We must get them.”