allAfrica.com * Militants Kill 14 in Port Harcourt Leadership (Abuja) NEWS 2 January 2008 Posted to the web 2 January 2008 By Iyobosa Uwugiaren Abuja Amidst New Year celebration in Port Harcourt yesterday, a group of armed militant young men invaded two police stations and some other locations in the city, killing 16 persons, including four policemen and one security officer attached to Presidential Hotel. In a separate incident, three other persons were said to have been killed inside Diobu area of the city in what security sources described as "cult related clashes". Although details of the incident were still foggy as at press time last night, but the attack came barely 24 hours after Governor Chubuike Amaechi lifted curfew in the state, promising to take the fight to the creeks where the militants hide. Briefing newsmen yesterday, the state police commissioner, Mr. Felix Ogbaudu, said the attackers came in two cars, a Mercedes Benz V-Boot and a Nissan Primera, as well as a 18-seater Mitsubishi L300. "The hoodlums carried out attacks in the state between the hours of 12 midnight and 4am today," he said. "They first attacked a patrol team in Artillery area around 12 midnight and were replied, though two of our men were injured." "They then moved to Trans-Amadi police station where they saw policemen on stop-and-search and opened fire on them. They killed one inspector and a mentally deranged civilian brought by his people to be kept till the morning in the station. "My men again replied them and they ran away. They did not enter the police station." According to him, while still at Trans-Amadi, the militants ran into a patrol team and opened fire, hitting the driver on the head. The policeman is said to be receiving treatment at the hospital. The armed men were reported to have moved to Presidential Hotel where they gained entrance through one of the small doors. They shattered the glass entrance doors and entered the lobby where they fired sporadically and people scampered for safety. "They then drove to Borokiri where they met their waterloo. Our APC (armoured personnel carrier) was waiting for them there and rammed into their vehicles and demobilised them. They came out and started shooting. The mobile policemen killed six of them while others entered the police station and threw dynamite on its roof. "We lost an inspector, a sergeant and a constable at the Borokiri station. The hoodlums had to abandon their vehicles and run. We pursued them to the Ndoki waterside where we recovered a Hi-Lux pickup truck registered FGN 312J41 belonging to the federal government with bloodstains." Ogbaudu did not disclose the shooting to death of a security supervisor from Abua in Rivers State as well as the shooting of maiden winner of West African Idol, Timi Dakolo, who is said to be receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in the city. Other vehicles recovered from the hoodlums included a L300 bus, registered XB424BNY, a V-Boot registered CF 153PHC, and a Nissan Primera registered DN 421PHC, which were parked at the station. From the cars were also recovered one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), three AK47 rifles, one G3 rifle, 14 pieces of dynamite, 42 belted bullets, 525 live rounds of 7.62mm special, six packs of fireworks containing 48 pieces, 232 packs of knockouts, one crate of canned Star beer and 13 cans of Guinness stout. He said the militants took advantage of the New Year celebration that dovetailed into the lifting of the curfew. The heaviest attack and loathing took place at Borokiri police station. The attack bore the marks of battle as blood stains were still visible despite attempts to cover them with sand while the roof of the entrance to the station had a gaping hole where dynamite thrown on the roof tore it down. Marks made on the floor by the APC that ended up stuck when the war was over were proofs that the battle there was intense. One side of the APC was pockmarked with bullet marks but since the vehicle was bullet proof, it could not penetrate it. On the use of knockouts, which the militants exploited, the police authorities said it was an issue to be federally addressed since those who sell them show proof of payment of duties and due import process. Security sources said they were looking at the possibility of the attack being as a result of the ultimatum handed down by leader of Niger Delta Vigilante Movement, Tom Ateke, who had warned of dire consequences if his destroyed houses were not rebuilt. However, Ogbaudu said he was looking beyond that in the investigation of who might be responsible for the attack. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the killings. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2008 Leadership. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------