Breaking News: Helicopter Shoots Passenger Boat In Rivers, Casualties Feared AUGUST 27 , 2021 | EASTERN PILOT Report By: Dennis Naku | A yet...
Breaking News: Helicopter Shoots Passenger Boat In Rivers, Casualties Feared
AUGUST 27 , 2021 | EASTERN PILOT
Report By: Dennis Naku |
A yet-to-be identified helicopter has reportedly shot at a local passenger boat travelling from Port Harcourt to Bonny in Rivers State. There are fears of casualties, with some occupants severely injured and rushed to the hospital. An eye witnesses at the Bonny-Nembe waterside where the boat took off from in Port Harcourt, told newsmen that there were casualties.
While expressing shock over the incident, he said that the boat conveyed passengers and foodstuff.
“The local boat that just left here to Bonny, within the Treasure Island area, a chopper or I will call it a flight helicopter, just came behind, went very low and started shooting at the wooden boat. “From the information we got from a boat driver, there were passengers in the boat. The boat also contained foodstuff such as garri, rice and other items.
“Everyone knows that is the route transporting foodstuff to Bonny. Some people died in the boat,” he claimed. When contacted, a spokesman of the state Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, said that he had yet to get the report and asked our correspondent to call back later.
Spokesman of the 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Charles Ekeocha, did not pick calls put across to him by our correspondent; just like his counterpart in the Nigerian Air Force, Port Harcourt, as of the time of filing this report.
As we reported on August 24, 2021 Six persons, including a commercial motorcycle operator, were killed by gunmen suspected to be cultists in Gwara and Kono-Boue communities, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State. A resident told newsmen that the gunmen numbering about seven invaded Gwara community in the morning, shot indiscriminately leaving three persons dead.
He disclosed that later in the day, the gunmen stormed neighbouring Kono-Boue where a motorcycle rider and the two persons he was carrying ran into them and were shot dead. The Public Relations Officer, Community Development Community of Kono-Boue, Nwibakpo Golden while narrating the incident said some villagers ran into the bush and to safer areas to avoid being hit by a bullet.
“This afternoon unknown gunmen invaded Gwara community, killing about three persons. They later went into Kono-Boue, killing a motorcycle rider and the persons that were with him. “They were coming from Thanksgiving when they ran into the gunmen and were shot dead,” he stated with bitterness. Asked if the security agencies were notified of the incident, Golden said he personally put a call across to the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Bori Division, saying he responded but the hoodlums had taken to flight.
He said the absence of a functional police station and the bad road in the area has worsened the security situation there, saying villagers who fled were yet to return. “As we speak now, some people are hiding in the bush. The way they (gunmen) came, they were not looking at anybody. They were just shooting. “The governor of Rivers State once came to this place and promised that there will be a police station there. Kono-Boue is a very large community. We are still hoping that he will fulfil his promise.
“Secondly, the road there is bad. If they fix the road, the police can easily access the area anytime we call them. The DPO came with his team, but the gunmen did not waste time. He (DPO) was able to restore normalcy,” Golden added. When contacted, a spokesman of the state Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, said he would get in touch with the DPO, Bori division and get back to our correspondent. Omoni, a superintendent of Police, had yet to give our reporter feedback at the time of filing this report.
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