N’Delta Militants Continue Attacks on Security Forces, Kill Three Soldiers

Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

Suspected Niger Delta militants continued their renewed onslaught on security forces in the region on Tuesday, killing three soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta code-named Operation Pulo Shield.

The killing of the security operatives brings to at least 10 the number of soldiers as well as naval officers felled by militants’ bullets in the last one month by the suspected hoodlums in various locations in the area.

Still sticking with their latest tactics, the heavily armed militants were said to have ambushed their victims last night in Foropa, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa state.

It was gathered that the slain soldiers had been stationed in the area since 2010 when the activities of the gangs spiked around the area.

The gunmen who operated on a speedboat were also said to have overrun a military outpost near the area, carting away two AK47 riffles, a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and other ammunition.

Last week, four naval ratings attached to an oil servicing company were in the same fashion reportedly mowed down by some suspected criminals.

The militants ambushed the military personnel at the Nembe creeks, Nembe Local Government Area, the State, routing four of the naval ratings instantly. Their bodies were later found floating on the seashore.

Just a few days before that, a similar attack on some soldiers led to an officer sustaining serious injuries while about four of the suspected were killed by the army personnel on patrol at the time.

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