The Rivers State Police Command says it has arrested 10 cattle dealers over the violent attack on members of the Rivers State Taskforce team.
Recall that some taskforce members on illegal street trading are currently in a critical state, after sustaining various degree’s of injury from Hausa community in Oginigba Slaughter, Trans-amadi area of Port Harcourt local government area of Rivers State.
Our correspondent gathered that the taskforce members had gone to enforce the ban on street trading in the area, when suddenly the Hausa thugs on seeing them started throwing stones, bottles and chased them with various weapons.
Some of the taskforce injured victims who painfully narrated their ordeal to our correspondent at the hospital where they were immediately rushed to, said the Hausa boys attacked them with stones and bottles which caused their broken heads and severe injuries sustained.
The victims claimed that the Hausa boys brought out guns from the mosque at slaughter Oginigba, shooting sporadically on them.
Also, the Coordinator of the taskforce, Retired DSP Felix Nwadibeyi, said they were at the Trans Amadi area to enforce the ban when the thugs attacked them with guns, machetes and other dangerous weapons.
He lamented that three taskforce members and a Police officer were badly hit in the attack, why fearing their critical condition.
“Today at about 11am, I led my men to Trans-amadi, precisely slaughter, where a lot of street trading is taking place. The Hausa community on sighting us, started raining stones on us, my boys tried to resist and some armed police officers attached to us fired some gunshots just to scare them away, before we knew it, the Hausa boys ran into the mosque came out with riffles.
“That scared the taskforce members. As civilians, they are seeing guns against them, they withdrew. As they were withdrawing and running back to where our vehicles were parked, the Hausa boys chased after them, raining stones on them until three of our members and a Police man were caught up with the weapons thrown at us, these three people are in critical condition in the hospital.
“Right now I don’t know what will be their fate at the end of the day, I was fortunate to dodge a stone coming directly to my face.
“We were there to clear the place from street trading, especially slaughter that was demolished by the state government, they have started building shanties making the place look untidy and they attacked us for carrying out our duties.
“What scared me most is the Hausa boys running into the mosque and bringing out guns. I’m a retired police officer, so I know exactly the type of guns I saw those Hausa boys bringing out, I was there life.
“What we saw today can be termed as one of the hazards in the job, but no taskforce members signed to die while carrying out their duties. The public should be aware of what happened yesterday, that it’s no longer cultist that carry arms, even strangers in our midst, the Hausa boys have riffles.”
But speaking on the development, Nnamdi Omoni, the public relations officer of the Rivers State Police Command, said ten persons have been arrested by the command and while investigations are ongoing.
