The Bayelsa State Police Command regrets to announce the recovery of the bodies of policemen who went missing after a boat mishap.
The unfortunate incident occurred on Friday 4th December, 2020 when one of the speedboats conveying eleven Policemen from Yenagoa to Southern Ijaw capsized at Oporoma. Five of the Policemen were rescued immediately, while six were missing.
A combined team of rescue officers from the Marine Department of the Bayelsa State Police Command and local divers have recovered the six bodies of the missing policemen and they are deposited at the mortuary.
In a statement signed by the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Asinim Butswat, the Command condoles with the families of the deceased and says investigation has commenced to ascertain the cause of the boat mishap.
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Earlier, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mike Okoli confirmed the incident in an interview with journalists at the Command Headquarters in Yenagoa. He disclosed that out of the 11 policemen who boarded the speedboat, 5 were rescued while 6 whose bodies have now been recovered went missing.
He expressed sadness over the incident that claimed the lives of his men, describing them as brave, dedicated and disciplined officers of the Nigeria Police Force that have paid the ultimate price while on a national assignment.
The Police Commissioner said that the bye-elections for Bayelsa Central and Bayelsa West Senatorial districtsY were mostly peaceful, but hinted that they were little issues in the riverine areas where the elections took place.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)