Three policemen on escort duty were on Thursday evening shot dead by gunmen at the Rumuokoro area of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Also, the gunmen kidnapped the Managing Director of an oil and gas company based in Port Harcourt.
The policemen, who were in a Hilux vehicle, were said to be escorting the company’s MD and members of staff of the firm when they were intercepted.
The daredevil gunmen blocked the vehicle in which the top oil workers were, and immediately rained bullets on the policemen who attempted to stop them from achieving their aim.
With the policemen killed, the gunmen reportedly isolated their target after identifying him, dragged him into their own vehicle and zoomed off.
The gunshots sent cold shivers down the spine of residents and business owners who scampered for safety.
Within minutes, the area was deserted, as the gunmen left unchallenged, while the lifeless remains of the three cops became a spectacle.
In a viral video that later surfaced, Passers-by congregated at the scene and were watching the corpses and discussing the matter in groups.
One of the voices in the video said, “It happened live at Rumuokoro. Live and direct. Jesus Christ! They have killed three policemen and kidnapped the person they were escorting. Look at bullets on the floor.
From the video seen by our correspondent, blood was still dripping from the head of two of the cops.
When contacted, spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying a full scale investigation had been launched.
“Yes, it is true that three policemen were killed. It is very unfortunate. They were providing escort for the oil company workers when the incident happened.
“But we are on it and an investigation has been launched immediately into the incident with a view to apprehend the suspects,” Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, said.
The PUNCH
