No fewer than three suspects have been reportedly arrested in connection with last Friday’s killing of 12 policemen in the creek of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Though it could not be confirmed from the state police command, it was reliably learnt that the suspects who were apprehended around the Southern Ijaw axis of the state by the combined operatives of the Joint Task Force and the police are now assisting security operatives with vital information.
One of the suspects, a security source told our correspondent, is an indigene of Azuzuama community, one from Delta State but the state of origin of the third suspect could not be ascertained.
The suspects, according to the source, were being held in a facility he refused to disclose for security reason.
“Effort to unmask the killers of our colleagues is yielding result with the recent arrest of three suspects in the creeks of the Southern Ijaw council area in connection with the killing. The manhunt will continue until all those involved are brought to book,” the source said.
Meantime, the recovered decomposing corpses of the slain policemen deposited at the Federal Medical Centre are awaiting autopsy, it was further learnt.
Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, declined comment on the development.
He said: “I don’t have to speak on that yet. It will not be in the interest of police investigation as it could jeopardize ongoing effort to bring the culprits to book. At the appropriate time you will be availed all necessary information on the development.”
Brother to one of the 12 slain policemen, Mr. Victor Ebebi, yesterday, lamented the loss of his younger brother who never had the opportunity to marry before he met his untimely death.
He said: “The only regret I have over the killing of my brother is that he did not get married before his demise.”
Victor Ebebi, who painted a pitiable sight, in an interview in Yenagoa said he still believed that his 31-year-old brother was alive and may be missing in the creek.
Victor, one of the family members of the victims, who besieged the FMC Waterside to check the corpses of the slain policemen, said his brother had put in seven years in the Police Force before the sad incident.
Source: Vanguard