Gunmen shoot police inspector on escort duty dead in Port Harcourt

By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Operatives of Rivers Police Command are on a manhunt for gunmen who shoot a police inspector dead and stole his Ak-47 rifle around Landmark Hotel, Off Olu Obasanjo road, in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Friday evening.

The Police Inspector who is attached to the Operations Department of Bayelsa Police Command was escort duty with his yet to be identified Principal when he was attacked.

Reports indicated that the gunmen targeted the head of the police inspector and, thus, were able to kill his instantly

The assailants subsequently stole his AK 47 rifle.

While confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer,PPRO, of Rivers Police Command said in a press statement on Saturday that a serious manhunt for the gunmen who killed the inspector has commenced.
According to her, the command received information that a male Inspector attached to the department of Operations, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state was shot in the head by hoodlums, while he was on escort with his principal around Landmark Hotel, Oroworukwo, Olu Obasanjo Road, Port Harcourt.

She confirmed that the hoodlums made away with the victims rifle and beret, but that patrol teams have since been mobilised to recover the items and bring the fleeing killer-squad to justice.

Corpse of the dead officer has been deposited at the Military hospital for autopsy.

The Police PPRO assured that further information will be made available as developments about the incident unfolds.

It could not be ascertained the gunmen were after the important personality the police was guarding or if the officer was the main target.