Killing of 12 cops: Dickson, IG vow to bring perpetrators to book

Yenagoa—Following the killing of 12 policemen by gunmen at Azuzuama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, weekend, Governor Seriake Dickson, has vowed to collaborate with security agencies to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

Dickson, in a statement in Yenagoa, said his government would do everything possible to bring the culprits to book, adding that steps were already being taken to comb all parts of the state to apprehend them.

Similarly, the Inspector General of Police, has ordered a massive manhunt for the killers, noting that the Nigerian Police Force will stop at nothing to ensure  that the killers were not only found, but brought to book.

Force Spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, said the IG described as “most unfortunate, the unprovoked killing of the 12 police officers, who were murdered while on legitimate assignment,” regretting that “the death of these gallant officers is yet a reminder of the dangers and challenges Police officers are exposed to in the performance of their patriotic duties.”

Meantime, fear has gripped the ranks of ex-militant leaders in Bayelsa State, following the killing of 12 policemen by ex-militants, over alleged disagreement with their leader, Kile Selky Torughedi, aka ‘Young Shall Grow.’

*Men of the Nigerian Police

It was gathered, yesterday, that known ex-militant leaders, including Eris Paul, popularly known as Ogunboss, Ebikabowei Victor-Ben, known as Boyloaf, Pastor Reuben Wilson, known as General Pastor, and many others, have increased the number of armed security around them to forestall any attack.

Dickson, meantime, said government cannot fold its arms and watch people take the law into their hands for whatever reason, adding that government will not relent until acts of criminality and lawlessness were completely eliminated in the state.

He said: “We will not rest on our oars as we will make the state very uncomfortable for criminals and perpetrators of other related offences to operate.

“For the umpteenth time, government is warning the youths and their collaborators, who take delight in kidnapping, maiming and taking the lives of innocent and law abiding citizens, to turn a new leaf or have themselves to blame, because nobody will be spared.”

He renewed his call on parents and guardians to prevail on their children and wards to desist from acts that could jeopardise government’s efforts at achieving enduring peace and accelerated development of the state’s economy.

He noted that government’s tough stance and zero tolerance for acts of criminality and lawlessness were still in force, as every offender will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Fear grips ex-militants

Pastor Reuben Wilson, who spoke on the development, said the killing of the policemen was a dastardly act and condemnable, noting that the killing could happen to any ex-militant leader in the state due to the alleged involvement of some leaders in the monthly deductions from the allowances of their followers.

He said the media should dismiss the claim of responsibility for the killing by Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND.

He said: “Our lives are in danger whenever we visit our areas. Anything can still happen to any of the leaders. But I don’t think I have any problem with my boys.

“We, as freedom fighters in Bayelsa, are saddened that such incident happened in Bayelsa State. We want to state that the purported MEND claim is false. MEND is not involved and the amnesty office is not involved. This is pure misunderstanding between a leader and his boys. The killing is an attempt to rubbish the amnesty programme of the Federal Government.