TheCable

Five policemen attached to 30 mobile police force (MPF) of the Nigerian police in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, were killed in an ambush at Okobie, Ahoada West local government area of Rivers state in the early hours of Monday.

Confirming the development, Ahmad Muhammad, police public relations officers in Rivers, described the incident as “sad”, saying the force was on the trail of the assailants.

“We are deeply pained by the senseless and barbaric killing of our colleagues attached to 30 PMF, Yenagoa, who were ambushed in the early hours of Monday at Okobie enroute Yenagoa,” he said in a statement.

“Today’s tragedy again highlighted the enormous calamity we face and witness in the course of our job. We put our lives on line everyday to confront crime and violence in our communities.”

The high rate of insecurity in the country has been a source of concern to the government.

Two weeks ago,  Solomon Arase, inspector-general of police, said at least 359 officers were killed in the line of duty between January 2014 and April 2016.

Arase said killing of police personnel had steadily been on the rise, commending the deceased officers for paying the supreme price to enhance community peace and security in the country.