Gunmen suspected to be pirates have killed four marine policemen and made away with a gunboat, off Abonnema community in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was gathered that the suspected sea pirates hijacked the gunboat belonging to the Marine Police Division, with four policemen on board, who where on routine patrol of the Abonnema waterways.

However, the lifeless bodies of one of the slain police personnel was recovered on Monday night while the remaining three were recovered yesterday. It was gathered that the marine police gunboat was attacked shortly after departing Abonnema jetty, in company of another gunboat, which had since returned from the patrol.

A security source told THISDAY that preliminary investigation indicated that the gunboat possibly were attacked by unknown armed militants. The source further said a corpse was  found on Monday, September 5, adding that it was discovered that the victim had gunshot wounds, which further confirmed the involvement of armed militants. The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Omoni Nnamdi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), could not reply the text messages sent to him for confirmation, at the time of filing the report.

Source: Thisdaylive