Troops of 343 Artillery Regiment of 2 Brigade, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, on Sunday intercepted armed militants in two Speed boats while attempting to blow up Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) pipeline at Gulobokri and Eweleso, around Brass area in Bayelsa State.
The suspected vandals, according to a statement by the Nigerian Army, opened fire on the patrol team but had to speed off when confronted with overwhelming superior firepower, with many of the militants sustaining gunshot wounds.
No casualty was reported on the patrol team, but a personnel of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to the team sustained gunshot wound and 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 three Speed boats suspected to be containing militants about to attack another critical infrastructure in the area.
The troops opened fire on the militants, 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.
The statement further said 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.
“With this development, troops would continue to intensify patrol in the general area to avert further vandalization or attacks in the area.”
