Police Unveils Names Of JTF Officers Killed By Gunmen In Rivers Checkpoint Attack

The Police Command in Rivers State, has confirmed the killing of four policemen, two Air Force personnel and three customs officers attached to a Joint Task Force by gunmen suspected to be members of the Eastern Security Network, the armed wing of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

BIGPENNGR understands the incident happened on Saturday night between Omagwa -Isiokpo – Elele communities in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers state, along the Port Harcourt – Owerri road.

The state Police Public Relations Officer in Rivers State, SP Nnamdi Omoni, in a statement on Monday, named the four police officers as Inspector Edwin Emmanuel, Afolabi Festus, Henry Okwo and Zakari Bako.

Two Airforce personnel namely ACM Onyebuchi Samuel and Muhammed Adamu were also killed during the attack.

The police, also gave the names of the three other custom officers as ASC M.B Mohammed, M.A. Adamu and AIC M. Mohammed while inspector Monday Baba who was rushed to University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital for medical attention is still in a state of coma.

He disclosed that the police lost five AK47 rifles while two Hilux vans belonging to customs service were also carted away by the hoodlums.

According to the PPRO, an attempt was made to attack Isioko Area Command but it was repelled by policemen on duty.

He said that the State Criminal Investigation Department has commenced investigation into the dastardly act with the view to unravel the hoodlums who carryout the attack.

“Policemen in the state have been warned to be on red alert”, he said adding that preliminary investigation shows that the attack was likely an attempt by the hoodlums to weaken the security on the roads leading to Port Harcourt with the aim of attacking the city”.

SP Nnamdi Omoni, reiterated that the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Eboka Friday “has ordered a full-scale investigation into the dastardly attack with a view to arresting the perpetrators and bringing them to justice.”

The Police added that so far, the “area is calm with reinforced and increased joint Patrols on that stretch and other areas in the state by the security agencies.”

The police further reassured that all parts of Rivers state are calm, safe, and secure.

BIGPENNGR gathered that the attack on the Police and Customs officers in Rivers state happened barely two days after three persons were shot dead in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt.