Gunmen in Military Uniform Kill Four NSCDC Operatives in Rivers

Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt
The peace in Rivers State was again jolted as yet-to-be-identified gunmen on Monday killed four operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state.

THISDAY gathered that the NSCDC operatives were manning oil installations belonging to Nigeria Agip Oil Company in Omoku when the gunmen clad in military camouflage stormed the place and opened fired on them.

The state NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Mr. Michael Oguntuase, said in a statement yesterday that the operatives had engaged the gunmen in a fierce gun battle on realising that the intruders were not military men.

Several others, who were injured during the incident, were taken to hospital for treatment.
The state command of the NSCDC has vowed not to relent in its effort in the fight against pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering.

Meanwhile, the state Commandant of the corps, Mrs. Helen Amakiri, has said the incident would only encourage them to improve and work harder.

Amakiri explained that the incident, which occurred at about 6.40pm, was not unexpected, adding that the command had earlier, through intelligence gathering, got information that the Agip facility in Omoku was to come under attack.

She pointed out that signals were sent to the Joint Military Task Force for reinforcement and maintained that the NSCDC operatives had thought the presence of some men in camouflage within the place was a response to the call for reinforcement.