Three days after an attack on a police checkpoint and a patrol team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kolo Creek area of Bayelsa State, the military authorities have confirmed the killing of two soldiers during a gun battle with suspected sea pirates in Ijawkiri, the border town between Bayelsa and Rivers States.
The military, through the Joint Security Task Force code named “Operation Delta Safe”, said that the incident occurred during the deployment of troops in Creek 6 Houseboat in Cawthorne Channel when the troops responded to a distress call of sea pirates’ invasion of Ijawkiri l.
In a statement on Thursday, Major Abubakar Abdulahi, the co-ordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre of the “Operation Delta Safe (ODS), explained that troops deployed in Creek 6 Houseboat in Cawthorne Channel while responding to a distress call of sea robbers’ attack around Ijawkiri General Area, engaged armed sea robbers in a gun duel.
He said: “Unfortunately, two gallant soldiers exhibited the highest point of patriotism by paying the supreme price while three others sustained gunshot injuries. Effort is ongoing by the JTF to track and apprehend the criminals.”
Abdulahi, however, stated that in continuation of its drive to accomplish its mandate, troops of ODS on patrol around Iyalama Adama axis of Rivers State, on Thursday discovered and destroyed 13 illegal refineries.
It was, however, gathered that the security formations in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States have been put on red alert following the attacks on patrol teams.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Asuquo Amba, has met with heads of sister security agencies in the state to brainstorm on ways to create a new synergy to prevent crime in the state.
The meeting held at the Police Officers’ Mess was attended by all heads of the various security outfits including, the Air force, Operation Delta Safe, Federal Road Safety Commission, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) and Department of State Services (DSS).
Amba called on the security outfits to work as a team to reduce crime and consolidate on the gains so far recorded in the state.
Meningitis Outbreak: 8 almajiris die, residents desert homes in Zamfara
With intense efforts by the Zamfara State government to combat the current outbreak of Cerebro-spinal-meningitis (CSM), eight almajiris (street boys) have died from the disease.
The deaths took place on Thursday at one of the almajiri schools located in Filin Gunza area in Gusau, the state capital.
The victims died from suffocation due to congestion of the place they were accommodated.
Source: BreakingTimes