Yenagoa – The Joint military force in Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shield, said on Tuesday that its personnel killed four suspected pirates, during a surveillance patrol along the Ogbia – Nembe waterways in Bayelsa on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the shootout occurred at the same place where a Lebanese construction worker was abducted and two soldiers killed by gunmen in April.
The spokesman of the joint force , Col. Ado Isa, confirmed the incident , saying that four of the hoodlums were hit by the troops’ bullets and feared dead.
Isa said the troops were on patrol of the waterways when they saw the hoodlums between Peregbene and Obama area of the state.
The spokesman said the suspected pirates were using a speedboat with 200 horse power engine, which had been banned in the state’s waterways.
“On sighting the gunboat, the gunmen tried to escape. Our troops fired at them while they were trying to run away. As they were escaping, they were firing back at our troops. About four of them were hit by bullets.
“They were either dead or sustained serious injuries.
“They navigated into a narrow creek, put off the engine of their boat and ran into the creeks. They escaped with their dead.
“One of our soldiers was shot in the leg and he was immediately rushed to a hospital for treatment,” Ado said.
He said the troops were still combing the creeks to locate the whereabouts of the gunmen.
Ado said the Commander of the Operation Pulo Shield, Maj.-Gen. Alani Okunlola, had ensured regular patrol of the waterways to fish out economic saboteurs and other maritime criminals in the Niger Delta region. (NAN)
