Gunmen kill 4 cops in Jonathan's state

2012-03-02 09:05

Yenagoa - Gunmen on Thursday opened fire and killed four marine policemen on patrol on waterways in Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan's Bayelsa home state, state police spokesperson said.

"We lost four of our officers today in an attack launched by unknown gunmen. The policemen were on patrol on the waterways when they were shot and killed," Emokpae Eguavoen told AFP.

The policemen were killed at the marine police checkpoint on Nembe river in the southern state, he said.

No arrests were made, he said.

In another development, three members of the Joint Task Force (JTF), a military outfit deployed in the region to tackle crime, including oil theft and piracy, were also attacked by unknown gunmen in an ambush, an army spokesman said.

Colonel Timothy Antigha, spokesperson for the JTF, who confirmed the attack, denied knowledge that the three military men were killed.

There had been unconfirmed reports that the three - two soldiers and a naval rating - were killed in the attack.

"I am not aware that the three were killed. I know the attack took place when the team was going from Brass to Ogbia [in Bayelsa state]. They were apparently ambushed. We are still gathering information on the incident", he said.

- AFP