Policeman, Two Suspects Killed as Robbers Invade Tide Newspapers

Ernest Chinwo 

Violence and terrorism, the twin evils that have been riveting the country have continued to blossom even as a  policeman and two suspected armed robbers were killed while six others were injured in a gun duel yesterday between  the police and some armed  robbers who had invaded the

premises of the Rivers State Government-owned Tide Newspapers in Port Harcourt.

THISDAY gathered that about five young men, armed with four AK-47 rifles and a locally-made pistol, entered the premises of the company at about 12.30a.m. and disposed staff from the Production and Proof-reading Department who were on duty of their possessions.

Narrating the incident to journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, the General Manager of the corporation, Mr. Celestine Ogolo, said one of the workers had phoned him at about 1:20am, informing him that armed robbers had invaded the premises.

Ogolo said: “I got a call at about 1:20am from one of the staffers that armed robbers were in our company's premises. As soon as I got that call, I called the Rivers State emergency number to alert the police.
“I learnt that in less than five minutes, the policemen were here. Unfortunately, one of the policemen was shot dead on the spot by the robbers who were already inside the premises carrying out their operation.

“The information I have is that  they were five, having killed two, three escaped. Six of them (workers) were seriously wounded; they (robbers) broke their skulls with the butt of the gun, after robbing them.

“Some of the workers said the robbers collected as little as N300 from them; as well as their  handsets, even ATM cards, and still brutalised them.”

One of the victims, who refused to give his name, said, “We were at work when they invaded the premises. We didn't  even know how they came in. They held us at gun point and directed us to bring out our money. We told them that we didnt' have money.

“They put hand in our pockets and collected the little money we had together with our handsets. They broke my head with bottle and blood was gushing out. I was confused.”

The Police Public Relations Officer Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the incident.

He said the police received a distress call and on getting to the scene, engaged the suspects. In the duel, he said two of the robbers were gunned down while a police officer lost his life.

“It was an attack in a media house and we went on distress to repel it. Two of the criminals were fatally wounded while a policeman gallantly lost his life. We are on the trail to arrest the fleeing two criminals while investigation continues to unearth the rationale behind the attack,” he said.