N’Delta crisis turns bloody, as gunmen kill 4 NSCDC officials in PH

The crisis in the oil rich Niger Delta region may have taken a turn for the worse,
as gunmen dressed in military camouflage have shot dead four men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The incidence took place at an oil facility in Omoku near Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The oil facility is operated by Eni, the parent company of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC.

According to reports, the Civil Defence operatives were shot dead by the gunmen when they engaged them in a fierce gun battle as soon as they realised that they were not military men.

The attack has been confirmed by the Rivers State NSCDC spokesman, Michael Oguntuase.

Also, confirming the attack, a community leader in Omoku said: “Dressed in camouflage, they came in a speed boat at about 6:40pm on Monday, exchanged gunfire with the operatives, leading to the death of four.

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He also added that a number of the NSCDC operatives were wounded.

Though attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta region have been on the rise since the beginning of the year, the attacks have been limited to oil facilities alone, as the militants have avoided any human casualty.

The Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, the most notorious of the militant groups currently operating in the region, have repeatedly said they are not interested in attacking soldiers or any security agent in the region but only to cripple the nation’s main source of income to drive home their agitations.
By Timothy Enietan-Matthews…

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