A manhunt has begun to arrest those responsible for the death of a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Alkali Mohamed and his orderly during the re-run election in Rivers State on Saturday.
The Rivers State Police Command made the announcement on Monday.
A group of bandits suspected to be cultists had ambushed a police patrol team in Ujju community near Omoku in Ogba Egbema/Ndoni LGA of the state, killed and beheaded a DSP and his orderly.
It was learnt that the hoodlums escaped with the police patrol vehicle and took some weapons along with them.
But the state police spokesman promised that those behind the dastardly act would never go unpunished, adding that one policeman, who could be the driver of the patrol van, was still missing after the incident.
“The death of the DSP has been confirmed and his body has been recovered. The policeman (orderly) is still missing. All hands are on the deck and we are combing the bush around some communities.”
Omoni said, “The Command’s Tactical Unit has swung into action; the IGP Unit is also helping the manhunt for the hoodlums. Investigation had been ordered and we will get the perpetrators of this act in no time.
“It is a sad moment for the police and we pray that their gentle souls will rest in peace.”
The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt had raised the alarm over the activities of hoodlums on Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA during Saturday’s legislative re-run election in Rivers State, disclosing that two policemen were killed and beheaded.
The General Officer Command, 6 Division, Maj.-Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim, had said in a statement, “The most brutal incidence occurred at Ujju Community near Omoku in Onelga where police patrol team was ambushed.
“In the ambush, 10 policemen scampered into the bush. The Mobile Police organized a rescue mission.
“Regrettably, the team discovered that DSP Alkali Mohammed of Mobile Police Unit 48 was beheaded along with his orderly. The patrol vehicle was taken away with weapons, three policemen escaped while five were missing in action.
“This is the same area where soldiers of 34 Brigade were ambushed on 20 November, 2016 where a soldier was killed.
“Also on 21 November 2016, 4 personnel of NSCDC were killed and their weapons carted away. These attacks are reasonable evidence of violations of breach of the law and order which portray the area as a flash point.”