Posted by By HENRY CHUKWURAH, Port Harcourt on
The Rivers State Police Command says that a total of 125 detainees were released on Sunday by militants who invaded the Central Police Station and the state's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Port Harcourt.
The Rivers State Police Command says that a total of 125 detainees were released on Sunday by militants who invaded the Central Police Station and the state's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Port Harcourt.
Among those illegally freed by the militants was the leader of a local militia, Mr. Soboma George, who was declared wanted two years ago after he escaped from the Port Harcourt prisons during a jail break.
Briefing Journalists on Monday on the incident, the state's Commissioner of Police, Mr. Felix Ogbaudu, said that 105 inmates were released by the militants from the Central Police Station, while 20 were freed from the cells of the state C.I.D.
The police chief, who gave assurance that efforts were being made to track down the fleeing suspects, confirmed that seven police patrol vehicles were damaged beyond repairs, while many others were vandalized during the invasion that was induced by the arrest of the militia leader for alleged traffic offence.
Recounting the invasion, described as the most daring action by militants in recent times, the police boss said that George, while in detention, may have made contacts with his men prompting them to carry out the deadly operation, which lasted for five hours.
He stated that before the siege, the militants who came in via the waterfront, shot sporadically in the streets during which a girl was killed and several other persons injured.
"After they had released the man, they withdrew through the waterfront and that's how they came in any case.
"By 8 P.M or a little bit earlier than that, it was all over. They had withdrawn and we got some anonymous calls that they had freed their man and that they were withdrawing and they actually withdrew," the police chief said.
The police commissioner, who confirmed that no policemen was killed or abducted, told reporters that it was not easy for the police to effectively tackle the militants because of the difficult terrain of the riverine part of the state, pointing out that "the militants have their strength in the creeks and the waters."
He reminded Nigerians that tracking down the militants was a collective responsibility of the police and members of the public.
The police commissioner hinted that the state's police command would soon receive an Armored Personnel Carrier {APC) from the Force Headquarters to enhance its combat readiness.