Saturday, 8 June 2013

Bayelsa Police Killings: Mastermind, 4 Others Arrested



By: Segun James
                            
Following a manhunt that lasted exactly two months, the men of the Joint Task Force (Operation Pulo Shield) finally arrested ex-militant, Jackson Fabouwei also known as General Jasper, alleged to be the mastermind behind the killing of 11 policemen along Lobia Creek in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on April 5.

Fabouwei, 25, who was arrested Last Thursday along Ikebiri in Southern Ijaw Local Government, has been a thorn in the flesh of security operatives in the area.

Sources said following a recent arrest of two of his boys and their girlfriends at a liquor shop in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, "the JTF intelligence operative finally arrested him after a long surveillance and manhunt."

JTF's Chief of Staff, Col. Farouk Yahaya, who paraded Fabouwei before newsmen Friday said the arrest of the kingpin was achieved through sound intelligence gathering efforts by the concerted efforts of the JTF and other security agencies.

The slain 11 policemen were on guard duties at Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area during the burial ceremony of the mother of a former ex-militant leader, General Young Shall Grow when they were brutally shot.
No reason was given for the brutal attack.

One of the policemen on duty who is an Ijaw indigene was kidnapped and taken away by the ex-militants but was later released after a week.

"The JTF conducted series of operations around Lobia, Ukubie, Ezetu, Ekeni and Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw Local Government to hunt down these and other criminals. This led to some of the suspects, destruction of their hideouts and recovery of some of their arsenals," said the JTF commander.

He said the suspect would be handed over to the police for further investigations and prosecution.

Debiro added that the JTF and other security agencies were on the trail of all criminals in its area of responsibility including other members of Fabouwei’s gang who are at large.

In an interview with journalists, Fabouwei confessed to the crime, claiming that his colleagues mounted pressures on him for them to kill the Policemen.

"I didn't intend to kill the Policemen," he said.

Fabouwei who claimed to be a surveillance contractor said the ring leader of the gang  identified as General Virus had relocated to Port Harcourt, while five others "are in Calabar in Cross River State."


The suspect said the attack was launched because Gen. Young Shall Grow had neglected them in spite of his affluence.

No comments:

Post a Comment