Bodies of six policemen who were involved in a boat mishap while on election duty to Okporoma in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state have been recovered.
One of the speedboats conveying policemen deployed for the polls in Bayelsa Central senatorial district was said to have capsized which resulted in the drowning of 11 officers, with only 5 rescued.
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Police spokesman in the state, SP Asinim Butswat in a statement on Sunday said the recovery was possible through the help of the Marine Department of the State Police Command and local divers.
He noted;
The Bayelsa State Police Command regrets to announce the recovery of the bodies of policemen who went missing after a boat mishap.
The unfortunate incident occurred on Friday 4th of December, 2020 when one of the speedboats conveying eleven Policemen from Yenagoa to Southern Ijaw capsized at Oporoma. Five of the Policemen were rescued immediately, while six were missing.
The spokesperson expressed;
A combined team of rescue officers from the Marine Department of the Bayelsa State Police Command and local divers have recovered the six bodies of the missing policemen and they are deposited at the mortuary.
The Command condoles with the families of the deceased. Investigation has commenced to ascertain the cause of the boat mishap.
Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has expressed deep condolences with the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, over the death of the officers.
Governor Diri, who also condoled with the families of the deceased policemen, said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, on Sunday, that their sudden demise while on national duty was very painful.
While describing the incident as unfortunate, he prayed God to give the police boss and the families of the policemen the strength to bear the great loss.
