The Baale was said to have been arrested while
coming out from the creeks after supplying food to the militants who were holed
up in the waters.
According to a security source, the Baale has been
handed over to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni. The
number one policeman in the state is quizzing the suspect himself.
The arrest of the Baale has infuriated the leader of
the militants, identified as America, leading to his reeling out several
threats.
Incidentally, it was America that led the abduction
of eight from the Nigerian Turkish International College (NTIC) in January this
year. He’s also suspected to be the brain behind the abduction of six students
from Model College, Epe.
Spitting fire, America was said to have alerted the
Divisional Police Officer (DPO), in charge of Epe Police Station, to get ready,
that he and his men were coming to attack the station soonest.
A police source: “Whenever any of their members is
arrested, they’ll know. It’s because of the arrest of the Baale that the
militants called the DPO Epe; they said they would be coming to wipe out his
station. It’s believed that Ijaw policemen, Ijaw soldiers and Navy are working
with these militants. They are the bad eggs that communicate every move and
strategy to the militants. This is part of the reason it’s hard to stop check
the militants.”
Meanwhile intelligence
report says that the same America is planning to carry out a bank raid this
week.
“According to
Intelligence report, America and his men are planning to attack a bank. They
have already picked the bank. They are likely to strike this week,” said a
source.
On Friday, there was a protracted
gun battle between militant kidnappers and policemen. The militants were
alleged to have injured seven policemen, including SO (Station Officer) in
charge of Marine Police. The Marine Policemen, who first engaged the militants
in the gun duel, were able to injure many and also sank two gun boats of the
militants. The militants fled, only to return with overwhelming number of
re-enforcement. They doubled crossed the marine policemen from different angles
and attacked them, leading to the seven wounded policemen.
The marine policemen
were later supported by teams of policemen from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad
(SARS), Ikeja, Lagos State and Anti-kidnapping.
Some policemen, who
partook in the gun battle, have described it as mother of all battle.
This was even as they
recounted that the battle witnessed their guns running out of ammunition, while
those of the militants were still smoking.
A source said: “It was
a bloody day. The militants used their gunboats to block Epe River. Nobody was
allowed to pass. They stationed three gun boats, in three strategic places.
Nobody dared to go closer to them. Policemen were looking at the militants and
they were looking at the policemen. The militants were in full camouflage. They
tied red bands on their forehead. They were dancing, jubilating and making
mockery of the policemen. They repeatedly beckoned at the policemen to come
forward if they could. In the heat of the attack, marine police called its Ogun
State counterpart; they said they didn’t have ammunition. I heard Navy was
called, but they didn’t come. Soldiers came, but left while gun battling was
still on. They said since it was on water, there was nothing they could do.
“The SO Marine was
seriously injured. All injured policemen are attached to marine. Marine police
took the militants unaware on Friday, injuring and probably killing many. The
battle was on top of water. Marine police used two gun boats, while militants
brought three gun boats. Marine police sank two of the militants’ gun battle
before they returned with re-enforcement. The militants were too many and
well-armed. They robbed private canoes and passengers.
No comments:
Post a Comment