Nine unidentified gunmen yesterday invaded the Gbarain-Epetiama Police division in Yenagoa Local Government council of Bayelsa State, killing the Divisional Police Officer, a pregnant policewoman and two other policemen on duty and carted away service riffles in their armoury.
The DPO, identified as Supol Ola Rosanla was shot dead while trying to respond to the volley of gunshots from the gunmen, while the pregnant police woman, who was identified as an indigene of Ogbia Local Government council, was reportedly shot dead with her seven months old pregnancy.
We gathered that the incident, which occurred at about 2 a.m yesterday, caused pandemonium in the community, as the volley of gunshots from the gunmen lasted over an hour.
It was gathered that the gunmen, who came into the sleepy community through the Sabagiriya end of the community in two speed boats, ransacked the armoury of the Divisional Police Station and carted away arms and ammunition.
The Police Divisional headquarter in Gbarain-Epetiama is described as a make-shift building without perimeter fencing. Community sources revealed that it was a customary court building converted into a police station.
Some community sources claimed the killing of the Policemen was premeditated and described it as “revenge” mission over the arrest, torture and detention of some suspected kidnappers by the division.
We gathered that the arrested kidnappers were later released at the State Police headquarters after some alleged money exchanged hands with unknown sponsors. They were alleged to have carried out the attack against the deceased DPO and his men for refusing to accept bribe and release them initially.
Others claimed that the bloody attack was carried out by some strange men who came into Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital under the guise of participating in the aborted Ijaw National Congress (INC) election that was disrupted. The same weekend witnessed numerous armed robbery attacks in most parts of the State capital.
One of the early callers at the scene and the State Commissioner of Youths Development, Hon. Udengs Eradiri, described the attack as a resemblance of anger against the Policemen at the division and an attack on the people of the community.
Eradiri, who is an indigene of the community, told newsmen that “the incident is a sad one and a clear attack on the people of the community.
“My community is under attack. It is not a good scene. There is blood everywhere with shattered bones of policemen. The community and the police community are victims in the attack.”
“Aside from the alleged claim of arms gathering ahead of the general elections, the attitude of the federal government is also facilitating lots of violence. Most arms acquired are acquired through such means. When you begin to see those attacks, it shows signs of poor governance”.
