Buhari talks tough as military, militants engage in shoot out

Acting true to President Muhammadu Buhari’s tough talk that government would wield the big stick against the militants in the Niger Delta area should they continue to dare it, the Nigerian military on Sunday engaged some militants in a shoot out.

Reports say troops of 343 Artillery Regiment of 2 Brigade, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, while on patrol within the general area of Gulobokri and Eweleso, around Brass area in Bayelsa State, came across some armed militants.

The militants in two Speed boats were said to be intent on blowing up Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) pipeline at Gulobokri.

The suspected vandals reportedly opened fire on the patrol team, which 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 on the side of the patrol team.

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

In a related development, Colonel Sani Usman, Acting Director Army Public Relations, said that “another patrol team of the same unit of 82 Division Nigerian Army, on patrol to Perigbene House Boat (HB) also encountered 3 Speed boats suspected to be containing militants about to attack another critical infrastructure in the area. The troops opened fire on them, killing most of them and injuring others.

“However, the casualty on militants cannot be ascertained as it was raining heavily and the raging storm could not allow troops to go on pursuit of the escaping criminals.

“A mop up operation has been organized for those militants that escaped with gunshot wounds and injuries as they may be receiving treatment in the neighbouring communities.

Also on Sunday, the Nigerian Army said it has arrested 10 suspected members of the militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, which had claimed responsibility for the destruction of oil and gas installations in the region in recent times.

The Commander of the 4 Brigade, Brigadier-General Farouk Yahaya, who paraded the suspects in Benin, Edo State, disclosed that‎ several items were recovered from the arrested suspects.

The suspects were arrested in Oporaza, the headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, following a cordon and search operation conducted in the community.

 

 

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