Posted by By BUCHY ENYINNAYA, Asaba on
At a time armed robbers are becoming kings, most communities in the country, especially in the Eastern and Southern parts of the country, are making arrangements for their own security.
* He died serving the people as a volunteer security man
At a time armed robbers are becoming kings, most communities in the country, especially in the Eastern and Southern parts of the country, are making arrangements for their own security.
One of the the communities that has taken such measure is Asaba, in Delta State, which floated a Community Policing, a volunteer security outfit in Asaba.
Those who make up the group are youths who are interested in keeping the people safe.
In this regard, Mr. Aloy Okeke had joined the Asaba Community Policing to help combat criminal activities in the town. However, his desire to serve his people without expecting any financial gains, could not be sustained as he was recently felled by armed robbers' bullets while working with the police to arrest armed robbers along the River Niger .
Speaking to Daily Sun on the death of Mr. Okeke, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in-charge of ‘A' Division in Asaba, Mr. Anthony Isoh, commended the gallantry of Okeke who, he said, was one of the officers in the volunteer outfit working with them in the town.
"He was of the Asaba Community Policing, a volunteer outfit working with us. He was always ready to volunteer. Though not only him, we also have some others who work with the police in providing security."
Narrating the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Benawi Ishaku, said the anti-crime patrol team attached to ‘A' division, Asaba had received information from Marine Police, Onitsha, Anambra State on anti -sea piracy patrol that a group of about 12 armed robbers on speed boat were heading towards Asaba through the River Niger. On receiving the information, the patrol team was mobilized to the water front at Mile 5, Anwai/Ugbolu and about 6.00 pm.
The hoodlums were sighted at Ebu village, along the bank of the River Niger, armed with AK 47 rifles and explosives.
According to him, the hoodlums, on sighting the police, opened fire, while policemen replied. After the ensuing shootout, six robbers were killed while others escaped with bullet wounds .
He said that three of the corpses were immediately recovered, while the other three sank into the river. One of the armed robbers was, however, arrested alive. But when Daily Sun sought details of the person, he was said to have been arrested when the police were picking people around there and not that he was found in the company of the armed robbers.
Ishaku further disclosed that two policemen and one operative of the vigilance group were shot in the exchange of fire. One of the policemen and the operative, Mr Okeke, died.
Isoh, who felt really sad over the death of Okeke, also said that the modus operandi of the armed robbers, from what they had seen so far, is to come into the state in flying boats heavily armed.
According to him, the criminals come in with such ammunitions, as AK47, AK 49, adding that as a result of the onslaught, they have beefed up security at the waterways. He, however, called on the government to provide them the necessary gadgets for use in combating crime.