Two police officers have been killed and another injured after gunmen attacked a security checkpoint in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The attack occurred around 9 p.m. on Monday along the Obiri-Kwere axis of Mbodo/Aluu Road. The officers, who were attached to the Aluu Police Division, were conducting a routine stop-and-search operation when the assailants opened fire.
The injured officer was taken for medical treatment, while the attackers fled the scene.
The incident came less than 24 hours after the Rivers State Police Command announced the arrest of a suspected high-profile criminal, Austine, popularly known as "Oyibo." Police said they recovered a locally made pistol, four single-barrel guns and five live cartridges during the operation.
Confirming the latest attack, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Blessing Agabe, said an investigation has begun.
She also disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, visited the scene with members of the command's management team to assess the situation and direct ongoing investigations.
In a separate development, the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has sentenced 25-year-old Jerry Njoku to seven years in prison with hard labour for defiling a 10-year-old girl.
Delivering judgment, Justice Rita Oguguo held that the prosecution proved the charge beyond reasonable doubt. The court also ordered Njoku to pay a ₦5 million fine to support the victim's welfare.
The judge ruled that the prison sentence and other penalties would run concurrently.
While defence counsel declined to comment on the verdict, the prosecuting counsel, Precious Ordu, a Chief State Counsel with the Ministry of Justice, welcomed the judgment, describing it as a positive outcome for the victim, the state and a deterrent to similar offences.
