SIX
persons, including four policemen and two kidnappers, were killed on
Tuesday in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State in a gun
duel between the two groups.
Kidnappers and operatives of the
Rives State Police Command had clashed at the Ubima-Omerelu link road
following a distress call to rescue four kidnap victims.
Our correspondent gathered that following a tip off, the police stormed the area to rescue the hostages.
It was also learnt that the kidnap gang opened fire on the security operatives when they entered the area.
A
resident of the area, Miss Miracle (surname withheld), told our
correspondent that the police had rescued the kidnap victims before the
kidnappers, who allegedly belong to a cult group terrorising the area,
ambushed the security men.
Miracle, who said that four policemen
and two cultists died during the shooting, noted that the development
caused tension in the community.
She also stated that policemen
and soldiers had taken over Ubima, Umuanwa and Omere communities in the
local government in search of the hoodlums.
Miracle added that
the security operatives arrested two men suspected to be relatives of
some of the suspects in Omuanwa community on Wednesday.
A resident of Ubima, Mr. Madu Amadi, said that the police stormed the community in order to rescue the kidnap victims.
Amadi also confirmed the killings and the arrest of two men.
He
said, “The police got information that some victims were kidnapped and
kept in the bush between Ubima and Omerelu. The kidnappers attacked
members of SARS who were coming to rescue the victims.
“There was
an exchange of gunfire between the cultists and the policemen, which
resulted in the deaths. Because of shooting, some residents of Ubima
slept in the bush on Tuesday.”
When contacted, the Police Public
Relations Officer in the state, Omoni Nnamdi, a deputy superintendent,
however, said that only two policemen lost their lives.
Omoni, who stated that two of the hoodlums sustained injuries in the crossfire, also confirmed the recovery of some ammunition.
The
PPRO added, “The state police command has made a major breakthrough
where its men smashed a kidnap syndicate and recovered some arms and
ammunition.
“This was done following information received that
kidnappers, who had earlier attacked and killed two mobile policemen
attached to 48 PMF at Omerelu in Ikwerre Local Government Area and made
away with their rifles.”
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