13th December, 2023
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Four soldiers were shot dead, while two staff members of an oil company are missing in an attack on a military team by yet-to-be-identified gunmen along the Amungboro- Emuphan road, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State on Tuesday.
The deceased soldiers were attached to the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army.
The troops were said to be on routine escort duty for an oil servicing company at Enweh West manifold when they were attacked by suspected militants, at Emesu junction, along Amungboro -Emuphan road.
Troops are combing the general area to fish out the gunmen who escaped through the Emesu waterside, using the Orashi River.
While confirming the incident, Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations Officer, Major Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said the troops were on routine patrol when they were ambushed by the gunmen.
He added that the two staff members of the oil company the soldiers were attached to are still missing.
“Suspects allegedly escaped through the Emesu waterside, using the Orashi River. Troops are currently combing the general area to fish out the perpetrators of this dastardly act. Additionally, efforts are ongoing to ensure that the unaccounted oil workers are found,” the statement read.
Reacting to the killing of the soldiers, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army/Land Component South, Operation Delta Safe, Major General Jamal Abdussalam vowed that those responsible for their death will be tracked down and be made to pay for their sins.
“Major General Jamal Abdussalam, while acknowledging the supreme sacrifice paid by the gallant soldiers, strongly condemned this unwarranted attack. He reassured that efforts are ongoing to track down these criminals to pay for their crimes,” Danjuma quoted the GOC as saying in the statement
According to the statement, Abdusalam assured the public that troops will not relent until all forms of criminalities are efficiently eliminated within the Niger Delta region.
*Updated