Suspected militants on Monday
ambushed a location of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe
(ODS), in Nembe city, Nembe Local Government Area, Bayelsa State,
killing three soldiers and carting away several arms and ammunition
belonging to the security outfit.
During the incident which occurred about 9.30am,
THISDAY learnt, the gunmen also made away with military gunboats, after
they sacked the operatives of the JTF stationed at the checkpoint in
the waterways of the state.
The checkpoint, it was
gathered, is located at the entrance of the community and has existed
since the beginning of militancy in the Niger Delta region.
The hoodlums reportedly
disguised as mourners to deceive the security operatives before
unleashing several gunshots on the unsuspecting officers, killing three
instantly and injuring several others, including civilians.
Many residents of the area, it
was gathered, became apprehensive when they heard heavy sounds of
gunshots which unsettled the community during the surprise attack that
lasted for about 30 minutes.
The gang which operated in
several gunboats caught the soldiers unawares, thereby leaving no chance
for a quick response, a source said.
Spokesman of the JTF in the
region, Lt Col. Olaolu Daudu, was not immediately available for comments
as his phone did not connect, but a resident of the area said that many
people had started fleeing for fear that the military might return for a
reprisal attack.
“The attack was deadly and
well planned. Nobody had expected that such a thing would happen at such
time when the jetties were busy with people preparing to go about their
normal business activities.
“I am sure even the soldiers
did not expect such incident to happen at that time. Some persons who
were already sailing out of Nembe said they saw the gunmen but
dismissed them as mourners because they were dressed in white robes”,
he said.
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