The acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman has announced that The Nigerian Army says its troops on Sunday averted attacks on oil pipelines located at Gulobokri and Eweleso communities in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
The director said this in Abuja,that the patrol team met with some armed militants in two speed boats with intent to blow up Nigerian Agip Oil Company pipeline at Gulobokri. The patrol team however stopped the troops on patrol in areas around Brass in Bayelsa.
“In the early hours of today, May 29, troops of 343 Artillery Regiment of 2 Brigade, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, patrolled the general area of Gulobokri and Eweleso,around Brass area in Bayelsa State.
During the exercise, the troops encountered some armed militants who opened fire on the patrol team.
“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.
“Unfortunately, a personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to the team sustained gunshot wound and has since been evacuated and he is in a stable condition,’’ Usman said.
Usman added that some other troops on patrol to the area encountered militants in three speed boats allegedly on a mission to attack another critical infrastructure of the oil facility at Perigbene House Boat in Bayelsa but was stopped by the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army.
Adding that during the encounter most of the militants were killed while some escaped with gunshot injuries.
And that the troops were not able to pursue the injured militants because of the bad weather condition on that day. And non were identified.
Usman added that a mop-up operation had been organised for those militants that escaped with gunshot wounds adding that they might be receiving treatment in the neighbouring communities.
He said troops would intensify patrols in the general area to further halt planned attacks on key public infrastructure in the area.
The attacks on critical public infrastructure in the Niger Delta region has heightened, in recent times.
