Men of the Special Anti Robber Squad
Residents of Bayelsa State, particularly in Amarata area of
Yenagoa, were thrown into pandemonium on Tuesday evening following the
brutal murder of a police officer.
According to The Punch, the police officer, identified as Mathew
Akpos, was allegedly murdered by gunmen described as “special police
squad”.
Akpos, said to be an Assistant Superintendent of Police, was
reportedly gunned down by the gunmen close to the OMPADEC school field
in Amarata area of the state capital.
The victim, who was said to have once worked at Ologbobiri,
Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, was killed around 6pm
on Tuesday by his assailants.
It was learnt that stray bullets from the gunshots fired at the
scene of the incident hit an elderly woman, who is a trader in the area
in the leg and stomach.
The unnamed woman was reportedly rushed to the Federal Medical Centre where doctors were said to be battling to save her life.
The gunmen were described as a “special police squad” from unknown
division. It has yet to be ascertained what the mission of the gunmen
was.
“The gunmen dressed like a special police squad. They wore the
outfits of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and police bulletproof vests,” a resident, who craved anonymity, alleged.
The eyewitness said the gunmen drove into the community on a black Hilux vehicle and accosted their target.
He added, “There were gunshots all over the place. I was at a
supermarket directly opposite the scene of the incident. The way they
drove into the community was suspicious and sent panic waves all over
the place.
“But the gunshots caused panic in the area as people, even
youths, who were playing football, abandoned the game and scampered for
safety.”
But another source from the community said the gunmen trailed the victim to the area and wanted to force him into their vehicle.
The source, who did not want to be named, claimed that while Akpos
was being dragged into the car, he resisted his assailants and in the
process pulled out his service pistol from its casing and shot at the
gunmen.
“One of the gunmen who was standing close to the Hilux van
immediately pulled out his gun and shot the victim who fell to the
ground.
“They later took his body into their vehicle and zoomed off.
Bullets also hit a woman in her 60s. She was taken to the hospital where
doctors operated on her.
“We are still living in shock because we don’t know the motive
behind the operation that led to the killing of a police officer by
persons who looked like his colleagues.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State
Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, said information at the disposal of the
command was still sketchy.
He, however, said investigations were ongoing to solve the mysteries surrounding the incident.
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