Suspected militants have killed four policemen in a New Year dawn attack on two police stations in Borokiri and Trans-Amadi areas of Port Harcourt, capital of Nigeria’s oil state of Rivers, the state’s police commissioner, Felix Ogbaudu, said.
He said the militants, who were armed to the teeth, lost some of their men in the fierce battle with the police, but could not give a definite number of their casualties as they escaped with the bodies of their dead colleagues.
However, Ogbaudu said the police recovered several assault rifles, including three AK 47s, from the invaders.
After the attack on the police stations, the militants also attacked the high brow Hotel Presidential in the state capital, shooting sporadically at the hotel lobby, where they killed one security man.
Three policemen were killed in a similar attack on Christmas day, when suspected militants stormed the Akinima police station outside Port Harcourt.
Also, several people were killed when suspected militants attacked a jetty in Okrika area two weeks ago.
Tuesday’s attack came two days after the Rivers state government lifted the midnight to 6am curfew imposed on the city, in the wake of the deadly cult attacks there.
Violence has been on the rise in the oil-producing Niger Delta region, as militant groups continue to press for a better deal for the impoverished oil producing communities.
But the government said criminal groups out to extort money have infiltrated the ranks of the militants.
President Umaru Yar’Adua recently called a high-level meeting of the country’s security chiefs to find a way to reduce the violence.
However, indications are that the violence will escalate, as the militant groups have said they are angered by a leaked security report calling for more military attacks against the militants’ camps.