Gunmen suspected to be militants on Friday ambushed the patrol team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at Igbomotoru community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, killing a yet-to-be identified officer.
A community source told reporters that the patrol squad was returning from a clampdown operation on illegal bunkering sites in the area when the incident happened.
It was learnt that Igbomotoru community has been restive in the recent time and the rate of bunkering activities is relatively high in the area due to its riverian terrain.
Some sources described the attack as a coordinated assault by gunmen who opened fire on the NSCDC patrol boat near the Koluama creeks, a known hub for oil theft and militant activities.
The attack is unexpectedly linked to pipeline vandalism syndicates, who reportedly used high-caliber weapons to overpower the officers.
The slain officer was said to have been shot at the range during the exchange of gunfire, when he gave up, while the injured officers are currently receiving treatments ata medical facility in Yenagoa.
Just last week, suspected vandals blew up Ogboinbiri/Obiobi 24-inch Gas Pipeline between Angiama and Angiamagbene in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area belonging to Oando plc, a major pipeline supplying gas to NLNG in Bonny, Rivers State.
Military personnel had last year invaded the community in search of militant kingpin who was accused of masterminding the killing of about 17 soldiers at Okuama community in Delta state.
When contacted on Sunday, NSCDC spokesman in Bayelsa State Command, Mr Solomon Ogbere, said he is yet to get a comprehensive report on the incident.
He said: “The information, sincerely speaking, we’ve gotten it but I’m still waiting for the OC to give me a comprehensive report, but you are not actually far from the truth anyway, but I can’t actually speak on it because I have not gotten the exact details but by tomorrow (Monday), I will be speaking on good authority by telling you that this is what actually transpired and this is casualty rate and this is what happened.
“But something of such took place but I’ve not gotten the comprehensive report on it yet.”
