Two Nigerian soldiers operating in the Niger Delta region have lost their lives following an intense gun duel with sea robbers in the creeks.
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Hoodlums, suspected to be sea robbers, have killed two soldiers and injured three others in a boundary between Bayelsa and Rivers states.
The soldiers were said to be attached to the troops of the Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe, with headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
It was learnt that the incident, which took place on Wednesday, occurred around Ijawkiri general area, a border community between Kalabari in Rivers and Nembe in Bayelsa.
The Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, Major Abubakar Abdullahi, confirmed the attack in a statement on Thursday.
Abdullahi stated, "Sadly, our troops deployed in Creek 6 Houseboat, Cawthorne Channel, while responding to a distress call of sea robbers attack around Ijawkiri general area, engaged heavily armed sea robbers.
”Unfortunately, two gallant soldiers exhibited highest point of patriotism by paying supreme price, while three others sustained gunshot injuries.
”Effort is ongoing by the JTF to track and apprehend the criminals.”
The coordinator also said that the troops in continuation of their drive to accomplish their mandate in the region, uncovered and destroyed 13 illegal refineries in Iyalama Adama area of Rivers.
He, however, said that no arrest was made during the destruction of the illegal refineries.