Troops avert fresh militants’ attack at Gulobokri, Eweleso in Bayelsa

In the early hours of Sunday morning, troops of 343 Artillery Regiment of 2 Brigade, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, carried out patrol within the general area of Gulobokri and Eweleso, around Brass area in Bayelsa State.

Army spokesman, Sani Usman, in a statement said during the exercise, the patrol team had an encounter with some armed militants in 2 Speed boats with the intents to blow up Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) pipeline at Gulobokri.

It noted that the suspected vandals opened fire on the patrol team, who responded with overwhelming superior firepower.

“The suspected criminals sped off from the area with many of them sustaining gunshot wounds. No casualty on the patrol team.

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

In a related development, 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 and about to attack another critical infrastructure in the area.

“The troops opened fire on them, killing most of them and injuring others. The casualty on militants could not be ascertained as it was raining heavily.

“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,” the statement added.