- Soldier drowns in Rivers boat accident, Army recovers body, mourns
BY TIMOTHY AGBOR
Two police officers and a civilian were on Monday, shot dead by gunmen at Ahiara Junction in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
It was gathered that on arrival, the attackers opened fire on the cops who were in uniform, and killed two of them on the spot while a stray bullet killed a passer-by.
A video seen by The Point revealed that residents of the community scampered to safety when the gunmen shot sporadically before attacking the patrol van conveying the policemen.
The force operatives were ambushed in a police station and shot dead.
Some residents of the area were seen in the video bringing the two policemen out of their vehicle.
A witness who confirmed the incident, said, “The attack came at the time the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Danjuma Aboki, was in the area on a morale boosting visit to his officers in Mbaise.”
When contacted, the state police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, said the Command has launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspects.
“The Imo State Command Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, Commander of the 34th Artillery Brigade, and Joint Task Force (JTF) operatives are searching the crime scene for evidence that could potentially result in the arrest of criminals accountable for the attack and death of two police officers at Ahiara Junction, in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State,” he stated.
Meanwhile, fear has gripped residents of the community as the area was desolated after the incident.
Soldier drowns in Rivers boat accident, Army recovers body, mourns
Meanwhile, the headquarters of the 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt, said it has recovered the body of one of its soldiers killed during a boat mishap in Bolo, Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Army said the deceased, whose identity has not been revealed, was among the soldiers deployed on duty in the Niger Delta waterways to safeguard critical national assets.
The acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Major Danjuma, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Major Danjuma said the gunboat carrying the late soldier was hit by a turbulent wave, which led to the unfortunate accident on Saturday, November 25, 2023.
He further said that following the incident, he was declared missing, upon which a search and rescue mission was launched, which led to the recovery of his lifeless body and the boat.
The statement is titled ‘Headquarters 6 Division mourns Soldier killed in boat mishap during operation’.
It read, “The Headquarters 6 Division, Nigerian Army, mourns a soldier killed during an unfortunate boat mishap that occurred at Bolo waterways in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State on Saturday, November 25, 2023, while on active duty.
“The soldier was one of the soldiers deployed on duty in the waterways in the Niger Delta region to safeguard critical national assets.
“The gunboat carrying the late soldier was hit by a turbulent wave, which led to the unfortunate accident.
“The soldier was declared missing after the boat accident.
“Consequently, a search and rescue mission was launched, and his lifeless body was recovered. Additionally, the boat involved in the accident has also been recovered.
“The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, NA/Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South-South, Operation Delta Safe, Maj. Gen. Jamal Abdussalam, while commiserating with the deceased family, expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident.”
According to the statement, Maj. Gen. Jamal Abdussalam further said the late soldier paid the supreme sacrifice in the defence of fatherland land and service to humanity.
“He would be greatly missed by the NA and the nation at large,” he added, and he prayed for the repose of his soul and for God to grant him eternal rest.