Spokesman for the police command, Mr. Ahmad Muhammad, said in a statement that the policemen were on an official mission to the area when they unexpectedly came under gun attack.
“The policemen went to Okujagu community on a routine police inquiry when they were ambushed by unknown gunmen before they could disembark from the boat that ferried them, they were bombarded with a barrage of heavy gunfire which forced them to scamper for cover,” he said.
Six policemen, comprising two inspectors and four other officers initially got missing but one – Inspector Aferuan Imoukhuede – was rescued a day after.
The police spokesman said: “Sting operations by the command are still on the top gear to rescue the remaining five missing policemen. Fifty-three suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident and are currently undergoing interrogation.”
He said the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Kimo, had set up a “high-powered” investigative panel headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Investigation Department, to unravel the circumstances surrounding the entire incident.
