The Rivers State Police Command is mourning the loss of an officer who was killed on duty at a checkpoint on Marine Base in Port Harcourt on Friday morning. According to reports, gunmen in a sedan drove past the checkpoint and opened fire, striking one policeman. After the shooting, the assailants sped away, prompting many people nearby to flee for safety.
A local source, who wished to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of the incident, said the gunmen approached from an adjoining street before reaching the checkpoint. “I was sitting at my shop this morning attending to customers when people started running. There was shooting, but I don’t know who fired. Later, police operatives gathered and the bad boys killed a policeman,” she recounted. The attack caused panic among commuters, motorists and traders, all of whom scrambled for safety. The motive behind the assault remains unknown at this time.
When contacted, State Police Public Relations Officer Grace Iringe‑Koko confirmed the incident and said that police operatives are pursuing the fleeing suspects. She added that Commissioner of Police Okon Effiong has ordered the immediate arrest of the gunmen. “The command is aware, and we have launched a search for the daredevil hoodlums to be apprehended and made to face the law,” Iringe‑Koko, a Superintendent of Police, said. “All tactical units and police divisions have also been alerted to be on the lookout. Calm has returned to Marine Base.”
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