Shootout in Niger Delta creeks as troops kill militants, avert attack on oil pipeline

THE standoff between the military and the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, degenerated, early yesterday, as soldiers of 343 Artillery Regiment of 2 Brigade, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, engaged the militants in a fierce gun duel at Gulobokri and Eweleso communities, around Brass area of Bayelsa State.

This led to the killing of some of the militants, which averted their attack on an oil pipeline in the two communities.

Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, who confirmed this in a statement, said another patrol team of the same unit in Perigbene House Boat, Bayelsa State encountered three speedboats suspected to be carrying militants about to attack another critical infrastructure in the area.
However, the casualty on the side of the militants could not be ascertained as it was raining heavily and the raging storm could not allow troops to pursue the suspected militants.

He said: “During the exercise, the patrol team had an encounter with some armed militants in two speedboats with intent to blow up Nigerian Agip Oil Company pipeline at Gulobokri. The suspected vandals opened fire on the patrol team.

“The troops responded with overwhelming superior firepower and as a result, the suspected criminals sped off from the area with many of them sustaining gunshot wounds. No casualty was recorded by the patrol team.

“Unfortunately, a personnel of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, attached to the team sustained gunshot wound. He has since been evacuated and he is in stable condition.

“A mop up operation has been organized for those militants that escaped with gunshot wounds as they may be receiving treatment in the neighbouring communities. With this development, troops would continue to intensify patrol in the general area to avert further vandalism or attacks in the area.”