3 killed as Niger Delta militants strike oil vessel in Bayelsa
Some gunmen believed to be militants have hit a tug-boat loaded with crude oil in the souther Ijaw creeks in Bayelsa state causing chaos in surrounding areas.
Premium Times reports that the incident happened less than three weeks after a similar attack in an ambush on a military houseboat that led to the death of two persons.
Legit.ng learnt that the gunmen the vessel with a combined team of security escort on board and civilians was attacked on Friday, September 22, by suspected sea pirates at Ekebiri Waterways in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
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It was learnt that the victims included two security escorts and a civilian crew member of the tugboat.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the police in the state, Asinim Butswat, said the body of a police operative was still missing from the incident.
“On 22, September 2017, at about 1845hrs, a Tugboat, towing a Barge with a combined team of policemen from the Nigerian Inland waterways, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp and Civilians on board was attacked by suspected Sea Pirates.The incident took place at Ekebiri Waterways in Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa.
“A reinforced team arrived shortly and rescued one Policeman, three NSCDC personnel and four civilians.
“However, a policeman, one NSCDC Personnel and a civilian were shot dead by the sea pirates. One policeman is still missing,” Butswat said.
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According to Butswat, the body of the other victims had been recovered and deposited at the Federal Medical Centre mortuary for autopsy while a search party has been deployed to find the missing policeman.
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators (NCNDE) recently called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reshuffle his cabinet, saying it is in the nation's interest.
The report said that in a statement by its national president, Mr Israel Eshanekpe, on Sunday, September 10, in Abuja, the group said that the federal cabinet as presently constituted had “many disgruntled and disloyal persons."
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Source: Legit.ng
