Bullet rains as soldiers, militants clash in Delta pipeline vandalism attempt
Bullet rains as soldiers, militants clash in Delta pipeline vandalism attempt
By Tamunor James, Asaba
Two of the soldiers recently deployed to the Niger Delta region to stop further destruction of oil installations had reportedly injured during a clash with suspected militants during a failed attempt to blow up oil pipeline in the region.
The pipelines, which are located along the creeks of Odidi Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, could not however be torched by the rampaging gunmen due to prompt response by soldiers.
It was gathered that the incident happened in the early hours of yesterday.
It was gathered that during the encounter with the militants, two of the soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force, were wounded while repelling the suspected militants.
A top security source, who disclosed the incident to our correspondent, could not however, confirm the number of casualties on the side of the militants who later fled due to the superior fire power of security agents.
A senior military officer, who confirmed the development, disclosed that the attack was successfully repelled by the gallant soldiers.
The spokesperson of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, Col. Isa Ado, later confirmed the incident.
Col. Ado explained that although details of the incident were still hazy, his men successfully repelled the attempt which was meant to blow up oil installations along the creeks.
“There was an attempt by militants to destroy some pipelines around Odidi in Warri, Delta State but the attack was successfully repelled by our men. Following the gallant efforts of the soldiers, the militants fled,” he added.
The JTF spokesman, however, stated that the military has begun a manhunt for the attackers with a view to getting them arrested and prosecuted. (The Sun)
Posted from GoBroadsheet