By Austin Ogwuda
ONE month after the bizarre disappearance of three mobile policemen at a check point was reported in Delta State, Nigeria, along with their rifles, they are yet to be found, a development that has thrown the command in total confusion.
Seriously confused and traumatized, too, are their family members who must have intensified prayers that they be found alive.
Spokesman of the Delta State Police command, Bright Edafe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police DSP in response to an enquiry sent by The Townhall as follow up to the incident yesterday, said, “no information yet, still on it”.
From the above terse response it is clear that they are are yet to make any breakthrough or closing in on the criminals who might have kidnapped them.
Recall that the said officers whose identities were still kept secret got missing while on duty along Ughelli-Patani Road a month ago.
They were among three other colleagues at a nipping point (check point) by Ohoror community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State attached to Police Mobile Force (PMF) 51, Oghara.
According to an witness account, “While they were at the nipping point, a young man simply identified as Moses Progress, 22, from the Uwheru community came to inform the team that he was robbed of his phone and money by suspected herdsmen under a nearby bridge close to their point while performing rituals to the god of the river.
“Consequently, the leader of the patrol team reportedly detailed the three inspectors to follow the complainant to the scene, armed with their AK-47 rifles.
“While waiting for the return of the three inspectors, the team later saw the complainant on a speeding motorcycle without our men.
“He was stopped to inquire about the three mobile police officers who went with him. It was at that juncture that he told them that, when they got to the scene, they were attacked at the bush by six herdsmen and he had to escape while the policemen ran in different directions.
“When he told our men that he did not know the whereabouts of the police officers who went with him, there was no option than to arrest him after they called for backup”, the source added.