Gunmen Kill Four Soldiers and two Others, Abduct Two Expatriates in Rivers
Gunmen have killed four soldiers in an ambush attack at the Ahoada axis of the east-west road in Rivers State.
The soldiers were on escort duty in the convoy of some expatriate workers with Daewoo Engineering Company on their way to Yenagoa in Bayelsa state.
They were shot dead along with two drivers in the convoy, by the gunmen who also abducted two of the expatriates.
Acting spokesman of Army Division Six, Major Jonah Danjuma said the soldiers deployed from the army’s five battalions, were on escort duty for an oil servicing company, at Enwem West Manifold in Ahoada.
He said they were ambushed at Emesu Junction, adding that troops are combing the axis to rescue those abducted and arrest the gunmen.
The source stated that during the attack, the assailants opened fire on the convoy killing four soldiers and two civilian drivers and kidnapped two Koreans in the process.
The details are sketchy, but efforts are ongoing to get more details from the units. Further details will be forwarded as soon as possible.
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Meanwhile, a community source claimed that the attack might have been a reprisal following recent military operations that took place in the area some two weeks ago where arms and ammunition were seized.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she was not aware of the incident.
The acting Deputy Director, of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Major Jonah Danjuma, in a statement on Tuesday evening said the troops were men of the 5 Battalion.
The statement reads Troops of the 5 Battalion on routine escort duty for an oil servicing company at Enweh West manifold, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State was attacked by suspected militants, at Emesu junction, along Amungboro -Emuphan road. Unfortunately, four soldiers were killed in action, with two other oil workers unaccounted for.
The suspects allegedly escaped through the Emesu waterside, using the Orashi River. Troops are currently combing the general area to fish out the perpetrators of this dastardly act.
Additionally, efforts are ongoing to ensure that the unaccounted oil workers are found.
The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army/ Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, while acknowledging the supreme sacrifice paid by the gallant soldiers, strongly condemned the unwarranted attack.
He reassured that efforts are ongoing to track down these criminals to pay for their crimes.
Consequently, members of the general public are kindly requested to provide credible and actionable intelligence that could lead to the arrest of these criminals.
The public is also assured that the troops will not relent until all forms of criminalities, such as militancy, oil theft, and pipeline vandalism, are effectively eliminated within the Niger Delta region.
