Militants invade Nigerian marine police base

Suspected militants who have held Ogun riverine communities hostage for months have attacked the marine police base in Iwopin community in Ogun Waterside local government area, killing one policeman.



The victims was identified as Segun Akinola, a sergeant.

The heavily armed militants stormed the base on Thursday night, and shot two other policemen, witnesses say. The attackers left with a police gun boat.

A police official who escaped the attack said they could not fight back as they were “ill-equipped”.

“The militants were armed to the teeth. They arrived the Marine Base and started shooting. They killed a Marine police man who was on duty; one Sergeant Segun Akinola,” he said.

“Two other policemen were shot and they were rushed to the hospital. It is sad that the marine base which is one of the oldest in the country is not equipped. That is why the militants can attack successfully. The militants went away with a police speed gun boat in the base.”

The attack came two weeks after militants attacked a businessman and killed three vigilante members in the community.
The chairman of the Ogun Waterside local government area, Femi Onanuga, expressed sadness over the repeated attacks.

“These attacks are reoccurring almost every week and it is sad that we are losing civilians and policemen. People are fleeing from Ogun Waterside local government. We are appealing to the government to urgently come to our rescue,” he said.

The spokesperson for the Ogun State police command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the killing. He said he was going to the scene to have a first-hand information.

A source revealed that the militants had sent a letter to the community two weeks ago to inform the police that they would be attacking.