The Nigerian Army on Sunday, May 29, 2016 averted a militant attack on Nigerian Agip Oil Company pipelines at Guboloki and Eweleso around Brass area of Bayelsa State, according to an army press release.
The army, who are part of troops of the 343 artillery regiment of the 2 brigade 82 division, were on a patrol across the creeks of Bayelsa when they had an encounter with armed militants in 2 speed boats with intents to blow up the NAOC oil pipelines in the state.
Acting director of army public relations, Colonel Sani Usman, in a statement emailed to The Trent on Sunday, said the military encounter which was in the early hours of Sunday prevented a “major attack” to the oil installations in the area.
According to Usman, the suspected vandals opened fire on the patrol team who responded with overwhelming superior fire power, leading to the suspected criminals speeding off from the area.
It was learnt that many of them suspected various degrees of gunshot wounds but no casualty was recorded among the Nigerian army on the patrol team.
Usman revealed that a personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps attached to the team sustained gunshot wounds but has been evacuated and in stable condition.
In a related development, another patrol team of the same unit of 82 Division Nigerian Army, on patrol to Perigbene House Boat (HB) also encountered 3 Speed boats suspected to be containing militants about to attack another critical infrastructure in the area.
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 in their pursuits of the escaping criminals.
A mop up operation has been organized for those militants who escaped with gunshot wounds and injuries as they may be receiving treatment in the neighbouring communities.
With this development, troops would continue to intensify patrol in the general area to avert further vandalization or attacks in the area.
Read the full press statement below:
TROOPS AVERT ATTACKS ON OIL PIPELINES AT GULOBOKRI AND EWELESO
Today, 29th May 2016 in the early hours of morning, troops of 343 Artillery Regiment of 2 Brigade, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, carried out patrol within the general area of Gulobokri and Eweleso, around Brass area in Bayelsa State.
During the exercise, the patrol team had an encounter with some armed militants in 2 Speed boats with intents to blow up Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) pipeline at Gulobokri. The suspected vandals 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. No casualty on the patrol team.
Unfortunately, a personnel 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.
In a related development, another patrol team of the same unit of 82 Division Nigerian Army, on patrol to Perigbene House Boat (HB) also encountered 3 Speed boats suspected to be containing militants about to attack another critical infrastructure in the area. 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.
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.
With this development, troops would continue to intensify patrol in the general area to avert further vandalization or attacks in the area.
Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman
Acting Director Army Public Reltaions
