How militants killed policemen in Bayelsa State

The putrid stench of decomposition was the ugly reminder of lives that once bubbled.

For all of four days, their bodies could not be located.

Rotting away in the dingy creeks of Azuzuama community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the bodies were already even no longer identifiable – apart from the anatomy which portrayed them as men.

The recovery, last Tuesday, of the bodies of 11 of the 12 policemen who were attacked by suspected militants in the creek of Bayelsa State, penultimate Friday, put to rest the speculation that the cops could still be alive.

The bodies were recovered four days after the attack. Miraculously, last Thursday, the twelfth policeman thought to have been dead, re-appeared.

They were heading to that community to provide security at the burial of the late mother of an ex -militant leader, Kile Selky Torughedi, aka Young Shall Grow, and Senior Special Assistant, SSA, on Marine Waterways Security to the Bayelsa Governor, when their boat was ambushed.

16 policemen were said to have been in the boat at the time of the incident.

Four escaped along with the boat driver. The police said 50 cops were deployed for the mission and they were supposed to be making the trip in a convoy of many boats led by a gunboat.

Then the deceased policemen’s boat, according to the police, was left behind after developing engine fault thus making them easy prey for the attackers.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that it took so long to recover the remains of the slain policemen due to the difficult nature of the narrow waterway connected by several creeks. However, the collaborative effort of the Joint Task Force (JTF), code named Operation Pulo Shield, with the police in the search and rescue operation paid off, leading to the recovery of the corpses.

One of the victims, a senior inspector, was identified as Joseph Ofujuni.

He was said to be due for retirement in December after putting-in 35 years of service.

Another was identified as Sgt Jack, Constable Ebebi Lucky.

The identities of others could not be ascertained.

One of the survivors was identified as Sgt Clinton Ambayi......

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