Police recover corpses of cops killed by pirates

The Bayelsa State Police Command has recovered the corpses of three policemen killed by sea pirates last Friday in the state, PUNCH Metro has learnt.

The command was said to have launched a manhunt for the gang responsible for the killings and attacks on the waterways.

The dead policemen, led by an inspector, were escorting a barge belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company along the Santa Barbara River when they were attacked.

The pirates were said to have shot at the policemen, abducted them and impounded their boat but after taking them deep into the creek, they allegedly killed the three policemen and the tugboat captain, who was also suspected to be a policeman.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Valentine Ntomchukwu, who was said to be greatly disturbed by the incident, directed the Marine Department to recover the bodies of the policemen and the police gunboat impounded by the pirates.

Investigations revealed that the leadership of the Marine Police stormed the waterways combat-ready to confront the pirates to recover the gunboat.

However, the pirates were said to have got wind of the police’s operation and shifted base from their location.

The police were said to have recovered the bodies of the four people killed and the gunboat.

The bodies were transported to Yenagoa, the state capital, and were immediately deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre mortuary.

A reliable security source said the police had received information that the pirates had blocked the waterways again attacking passenger boats and travellers.

The source, who craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak, said, “Pirates attacked and killed three of our men. They were escorting an Agip barge when they were attacked. We have recovered their bodies and the gunboat. The bodies have been brought to Yenagoa and deposited at the FMC mortuary.”

The source said the police had deployed marine operatives in the waterways to ensure adequate security for passengers and seafarers.

http://www.punchng.com/metro-plus/police-recover-corpses-of-cops-killed-by-pirates/