ONYEDI GABRIEL, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has condemned the attack on checkpoints along the busy Port Harcourt-Owerri Road in Rivers State that resulted in the killing of about eight security operatives.
About 70 gunmen were said to have raided four checkpoints at about 11pm on Saturday from Elele to Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State.
Out of the eight operatives killed, three were said to be military personnel; three Customs officials and two policemen.
Some were reportedly beheaded while others were burnt beyond recognition.
FirstNews reported that the hoodlums carted away the rifles of the security operatives and their patrol vans with sirens.
In a statement signed by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, on Sunday, Wike strongly condemned the barbaric and dastardly attack on security personnel and directed security agencies to arrest the gunmen, who attacked and killed their personnel.
The governor said there was no justification for such a heinous and condemnable attack targeted against innocent security personnel on legitimate duty of protecting life and property in the state.
He said: “The Government of Rivers State is saddened by the unwarranted callous attack on security personnel. We offer our sympathies to the relatives of those who lost their lives in the attack.”
Also, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State, has condemned the senseless killings of security operatives in the state at the weekend describing the attackers as evil-minded cowards.
The APC called on the Nyesom Wike-led administration to redouble its efforts to keep the people safe.
The APC Spokesperson, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, in a statement in Port Harcourt, said that the Rivers people were shocked that such an operation by evil-minded persons could be carried out in their midst.
He said: “Those who carried out these attacks are evil; they are cowards; and we must make sure that these evil-minded cowards are not allowed to threaten our peace.
“Our hearts go out to the families of these gallant soldiers and policemen who paid the supreme price that we may live.
“We sympathise with those they left behind and urge the authorities in Port Harcourt to ensure that the lives of these officers who died on the line of duty do not go in vain”.
A police situation report dated April 25, identified the gunmen as members of the proscribed Indigeneous Peoples of Biafra.
The Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the attacks on police checkpoints but failed to mention casualty figures.