The Bayelsa State Police Command on Friday said two policemen had lost their lives due to gunshot injuries during a failed kidnap attempt on chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA).

Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Asinim Butwat, said on Friday that the incident occurred on Thursday at Amasoma in Southern Ijaw LGA.

Asinim further explained that a prompt manhunt for the suspected kidnappers had yielded results as one of the suspected kidnappers was already in Police net.

Asinim said: “On Thursday July 30, at about 8pm four daredevil gunmen stormed the residence of the Chairman Southern Ijaw LGA, Hon Remember Ogbe, at Amassoma in Southern Ijaw LGA to abduct him.

“They were engaged in a gun battle with the Policemen attached to the Chairman.

“The unknown gunmen retreated, but the two Police Corporals lost their lives due to injuries sustained in the encounter.

“The corpses of the deceased Policemen were deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Mortuary, Yenagoa, for autopsy.”

According to Asinim, men of the Anti kidnapping unit of Bayelsa Police Command have arrested the mastermind of the foiled kidnap, Mr Seigha Oduwaiye 24, from Akassa in Brass LGA, Bayelsa

The Police Spokesman said that the suspect has made useful statements while operatives of the Anti kidnapping unit have intensified efforts to arrest other suspects still at large.

•Photo shows IGP Solomon Arase.