RIVERS, Nigeria – In a shocking incident that unfolded on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, a member of the Counter Terrorism Unit, CTU, attached to the Delta State Government House in Asaba, known only as Solomon, was gunned down in an ambush in Rivers State.
In a twin tragedy, unconfirmed reports indicate that Solomon’s identical twin brother collapsed and died upon receiving the news of Solomon’s death.
According to sources, Solomon and his colleagues were on a mission to Rivers State when they ran into an ambush by unidentified gunmen.
“Some members of CTU in Government House went for a mission in Rivers State on Friday, May 19, 2023, and ran into an ambush by unknown gunmen,” a source said.
“The gunmen shot at their vehicle, they retaliated, and, unfortunately, Solomon was shot dead while other members of the team escaped.”
The loss of Solomon, a veteran of the police force, comes as a heavy blow to his unit and to the police community at large.
He was part of the police team that narrowly escaped a similar attack last February when unknown assailants killed three policemen accompanying Governor Okowa.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the Rivers State Police Command spokesperson, confirmed the unfortunate incident and explained that the CTU convoy ran into the gunmen while they were already engaged in an operation.
The location of the ambush was Rumuji, within the Emuoha Local Government Area section of the East-West Road.
“Yes, I can confirm that it happened. He was not the target. What happened was that the gunmen were operating when their convoy ran into them. In the process, he was hit by a stray bullet,” stated Iringe-Koko.
The tragic event underscores the rising threat of violence that law enforcement officers face while serving on the frontline in the increasingly unstable region.
Investigations are underway to identify and apprehend those responsible for the ambush and to bring them to justice.
