Soldiers Avert Attacks On Pipelines At Gulobokri, Ewele

The Nigerian army on Sunday said troops on patrol in the Niger-Delta region

averted attacks by militants on some critical oil infrastructures.

A statement by Army spokesman Colonel Sani Usman, said troops of 343 Artillery

Regiment and of 2 Brigade, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in the

early hours of

today carried out patrol within the general area of Gulobokri and

Eweleso, around

Brass area in Bayelsa State.

Usman said the patrol team encountered some armed militants in two speed boats

with intent to blow up Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) pipeline in Gulobokri.

He said the suspected militants opened fire on the patrol team, explaining that:

"The troops responded with overwhelming superior firepower and as a result, the

suspected criminals sped off from the area with many of them sustaining gunshot

wounds."

He added that: "No casualty on the patrol team. Unfortunately, a staff

of Nigerian

Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), attached to the team sustained gunshot

wound. He has since been evacuated and he is in a stable condition."

Usman also said another patrol team of the same unit of the 82 Division Nigerian

Army, on patrol to Perigbene House Boat (HB) also encountered three Speed boats

suspected to be containing militants about to attack another critical

infrastructure

in the area.

He said: "The troops opened fire on them, killing most of them and

injuring others.

However, the casualty on militants cannot be ascertained as it was

raining heavily

and the raging storm could not allow troops to go on pursuit of the escaping

criminals."

He added that a mop up operation has been organized for those militants that

escaped with gunshot wounds and injuries as they may be receiving treatment in

the neighbouring communities.

He Usman assured that troops would continue to intensify patrol in the general

area to avert further vandalization or attacks in the area.