By Ebiowei Lawal
YENAGOA- The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Bayelsa State has condemned the attack on the marine police station that led to the death of two police officers in Ogbia LGA.
According to the chairman of Maritime worker, Comrade Lloyd Sense, the attack carried out by some suspected hoodlums is not only barbaric and inhuman but militates development across the state.
The union in its statement issued in Yenagoa called on the Federal Government to provide adequate security on along the waterways of the state in order to safeguard lives and properties.
Explaining further, Lloyd said the murdered policemen, attached to the Ogbia Marine Police base, came under gun attack at about 10pm on Monday.
The attackers, who were heavily armed, came in two speed boats, carted away outboard engines belonging to the police and left the corpse of the policemen.
The commanding officer of the Marine Post, a Superintendent of Police, sustained gun shot injury in the attack.
The Bayelsa State Police Commissioner, Mr. Asuquo Ambassador, said though the police authority in the state will soon made details of the attack known, confirmed that the attack took place at about 002hrs of the morning.
According to him, “Some unknown suspected sea pirates that came in with two boats from different directions attacked our men that were anchored at marine base at Ogbia and obviously there was a lot of exchange of fire. We tried to be as defensive as possible.
“In the cause of that we lost two policemen who were shot in action and they were able to make away with two of our riffles and a 200horsepower engine belonging to the Ogbia Local Government Area. To show you the extent of exchange of firing at the scene. We were able to recover a G3 magazine, which was used by them with 17 live ammunition and 18 expended ammunition.
“The firing was not from one direction. It was through separate direction. Prior to this time, we had secured our GMP gun which I think was one of the main thing they were looking for. Their direction was seriously on that but we were able to secure that.
“So, they could not steal it and that was why we lost two police officers in action and the officer that led the team, an ASP was equally injured and is recovering. That is the activities of the sea pirates. For a while we have been able to curtail but it is really rearing its head again. We have appealed to our sister agencies to help
“We are all out to ensure that these pirates are checked. We have intelligence report that they are trying to increase their activities to sabotage the efforts of the government to secure the highway. This is a recent development and it has given us a cause to sit up. We will re-strategise and secure our base and the water areas
” I am sure they must have run away with their casualties. As at 2am, I , the DC OPS and AC OPS and other intelligence outfit were quite around the vicinity and we have spread our dragnets. We have informed other security agencies and all efforts are being made to apprehend the suspects.”
