Police in Bayelsa State have announced the recovery of six dead bodies of the drowned policemen who were involved in a boat mishap while on election duty to Okporoma in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state during the eve of Saturday’s senatorial by-elections in the state.
The police spokesman in the state, SP Asinim Butswat while announcing the recovery of the dead bodies on Sunday, said the recovery was possible through the help of the Marine Department of the Bayelsa State Police Command and local divers.
He said: “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.
“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.” He said.
Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has expressed deep condolences with the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, over the loss of some of the force’s personnel that drowned while escorting voting materials for last Saturday’s senatorial bye-election in the state.
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.
