15 policemen still missing as survivors recount what went wrong

15 policemen still missing as survivors recount what went wrong

Reports indicate that approximately fifteen policemen are still missing following an ambush by suspected killer herdsmen at Agadama Community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The police team was on a rescue mission for abducted persons in a forest at Bentsiga Buplesi Community in the Ugheli area of the state.

Over 20 policemen embarked on the rescue mission, using cutting-edge technology to locate the kidnappers’ den. However, communication disruptions occurred when the mobile phone network went dead in the forest, making it unclear if it was related to the general communication issues experienced in some parts of the country.

“Two of the slain policemen were said to have sent messages via SMS and WhatsApp to their boss, informing him of the network failure. “Perhaps if there was a network, they would have called for backup, as it made it difficult for them to call for reenforcements,” a source said.

Police sources revealed that, “It is sad that our colleagues died and there is dead silence everywhere, as if our lives don’t count.

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“Yes, they went on a rescue mission. The message one of them sent to their boss informing him about network failure is there to prove that they were actually in the bush. They were ambushed by the kidnappers, who were suspected to be herdsmen.

“One of them was Inspector Abbey Olu. He told some of us that when he came back from the operation, he would take action on some things we discussed. He was also supposed to be paired with another team for the operation, but he joined the Bentsiga team because the other operation was postponed.”

Some of the officers identified as Inspector Abel Olobum, Sergeant Ayere Paul, Sergeant Cyril Obretim, and three others drafted from PMF 51, whose identities could not be ascertained, are currently missing after the attack.

According to a senior security source from the Delta State Police Command, Asaba, “a team of police officers from the Intelligence and Response Squad, Abuja, in collaboration with PMF 51, Oghara, and the Anti-Kidnapping Squad from the state police command, Asaba, had gone to Agadama in Uwheru Community in search of the three officers that were declared missing.

“The combine team came under heavy gun fire with suspected Fulani herdsmen, and three of our men, Insp. Abel Olobum, Sgt. Ayere Paul, and Sgt. Cyril Obretim, and three other personnel from PMF 51, whose details we cannot give, went missing during the encounter.

“About 15 of our police officers are currently missing in the encounter, while the prime suspect, Moses Progress, who was brought from Asaba, also escaped during the gun battle between the police and the suspected Fulani herdsmen.

“During the process, one of our personnel, Insp. Ekeinde Edwin, held captive by the hoodlums, was able to escape,” the sources added.