Hoodlums, suspected to be sea robbers, have killed two persons and injured a policeman in Bayelsa State.
The incident occurred on Wednesday in Ekeki, Yenagoa, and the Akassa-Yenagoa waterways.
It was learnt that suspected armed cult members, numbering about 10, stormed the Ekeki area of Yenagoa about 7.30pm on Wednesday, shot at residents and stole their money and other valuables.
The hoodlums reportedly caused confusion and panic in the area as residents fled in different directions for safety.
Traders were said to have closed their shops following the activities of the suspected cult members.
A victim, identified simply as Ifiemi, the 30-year-old son of an Ekeki village chief, was reportedly shot.
Ifiemi was said to have been rushed to a hospital, where he died a few hours after the shooting.
Also, an unidentified policeman, who was said to be coming out from a barber’s in the area, was shot by the hoodlums.
The unnamed policeman was reportedly shot while trying to stop the cult members from robbing him of his cell phone and cash.
The cop was said to have been rushed to an undisclosed hospital, where he was said to be responding to treatment.
On the pirates’ attacks, a victim, identified only as Asuku, a former chairman of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria, Akassa Unit, reportedly died in the attack.
Asuku was said to be travelling on the waterways from Akassa to Yenagoa when the boat he was in came under attack.
Community sources said the sea robbers attacked the boat along Okobotuo at Lagos Camp at about 6.30am on Thursday.
Spokesperson for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, confirmed the killing and the activities of cult members.
He, however, said he had yet to be briefed on the sea robbery incident.
Butswat, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said, “The boy was killed as a result of a cult clash. Our earlier investigations linked the dead victim to one of the cults in the state.
“As regards the injured policeman, he was coming out of a barber’s when the hoodlums were passing.
“They attacked him and dispossessed him of his phone because he was off duty. They shot him, but he is responding to treatment at a hospital.”
The Bayelsa Police Commisioner had on Wednesday assured the people of the state that the command had taken steps to ensure the safety of citizens following directives from the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, over frequent deaths from armed attacks in the past few weeks.
At least five persons have been shot dead, while a female broadcast journalist attached to the Bayelsa State Government survived a shooting incident in Yenagoa a forthnight ago.
Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
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