30th June, 2022
Okafor Ofiebor/ Port Harcourt
There is now massive deployment of both uniform and undercover Police personnel across Oyigbo Local Government Area of the Rivers State over gruesome murder of an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, Chris Josiah.
The ASP attached to Afam Divisional Police Headquarters was killed while returning home after work in the evening of Tuesday, 28th June 2022 by gunmen said to be masked.
ASP Josiah was reportedly ambushed by the armed masked men along Assemblies of God Church, Obeama Community, Oyigbo.
He was shot dead inside his Lexus RX 300 SUV.
In a statement on Thursday, Rivers Commissioner of Police, CP Eboka Friday, ordered massive deployment of personnel to fish out the gunmen who murdered ASP Chris Josiah.
In the press statement signed by DSP Grace Iringe-Koko,the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CP Eboka said besides tracking down killers of ASP Josiah, “criminal elements and perpetrators of violent crimes against the good people of the area” will also be fish out.
DSP Grace Iringe-Koko stated that “The deceased Officer was ambushed by five yet-to-be-identified armed masked men, who opened fire at the Officer along Assemblies of God Church, Obeama Community, Oyigbo, and shot him dead inside his Lexus RX 300 SUV.
“The Commissioner of Police has equally ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident with a view to unraveling the remote and immediate cause of the attack and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
“He strictly warns that further attacks on Police Officers tasked with the protection of lives and property will not be tolerated by the Police authority.”DSP Grace Iringe-Koko said.
Our Correspondent, however, recalls that in October 2020, Governor Nyesom Wike declared a dust-to-curfew following the mayhem unleashed on Oyigbo people on Wednesday October 21, when hoodlums suspected to be members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, invaded the area and went on destruction of police Stations and killing spree.
They killed of six Soldiers and stole their weapons as well as four Policemen who they burnt alive.
Over 50 private and public vehicles, including an Armoured Personnel Carrier,APC, State High Court, Police Stations were also burnt.
Ends