The military had engaged in the operation to dislodge and arrest a gang of notorious militants terrorizing the riverine area. Four Soldiers, Militants Killed As Army Begin Manhunt Of Killers Of Beheaded Soldier.
Four soldiers and some militants have been reportedly killed in a bloody clash between militants and soldiers in an ongoing military operation to fish out those behind the beheading of a security official at Toru-Ndoro community in Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa.
Trouble started in the community following the beheading of the security official.
The Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe subsequently launched a manhunt in the area with a mandate to arrest the militants behind the beheading security official.
The Ijaw Youths Council and Bayelsa government had accused troops of violence and razing houses of innocent residents in the area.
Four of the soldiers who are in the operation were said to have been killed in a shootout with the militants.
The Commander of JTF Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi, has deployed more troops as reinforcement in the community.
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The troops were said to have intensified the manhunt to locate the hideout of the militant leaders in the creeks.
A security source confirmed the killing of four soldiers by the militants and vowed that the murderers of their colleague must be apprehended.
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Suspected Militants Kill Two Policemen, Cart Away Two Gunboats, Arms In Bayelsa
Unknown gunmen on Tuesday attacked a Marine Police Division in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa killing two policemen on guard duties.
A Police Source at the Division who confirmed the development said that the pirates also made away with two units of 200 Horsepower gunboats.
Residents of the area said that the hoodlums attacked the marine police formation in the wee hours of Tuesday and ransacked the place in search of arms and killed the two policemen on guard duties who confronted them.
Mr Lloyd Sese, Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union in Bayelsa also confirmed the development and said that it had paralyzed the marine transport sector as boat operators were scared of the pirates.
“If they could be so daring to invade a Marine Police Base and disarm Policemen on guard and killed two of them and stole two of their patrol boats, then the waterways cannot be safe for marine transport operators hence we withdrew our boats,” Sese said.