At least three persons have been shot dead by suspected militants in Bayelsa State, Premium Times reports.
It was gathered that the militants attacked a tug-boat carrying crude oil in Southern Ijaw creeks.
At least three crew members, two of which were security operatives, were reportedly killed in the attack.
This is coming barely three weeks after a military houseboat was ambushed by suspected Niger Delta militants in the same area, leaving two persons dead.
The latest attack occurred on Friday, September 22, at Ekebiri Waterways in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer for Bayelsa Command, Asinim Butswat, said that one policeman is still missing.
Butswat
said that a response team dispatched to the crime scene rescued eight
occupants of the ill-fated boat while efforts are underway to arrest the
suspected bandits.
He said: “On 22,
September 2017, at about 1845hrs, a Tugboat, towing a Barge with a
combined team of policemen from the Nigerian Inland waterways, Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corp and Civilians on board was attacked by
Suspected Sea Pirates. The incident took place at Ekebiri Waterways in
Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa.
“A
reinforced team arrived shortly and rescued one Policeman, three NSCDC
personnel and four civilians. However, a policeman, one NSCDC Personnel
and a civilian were shot dead by the sea pirates. One Policeman is still
missing.”
The
police spokesperson said that the remains of the victims have been
recovered and deposited at the Federal Medical Centre Mortuary for
autopsy.
According to him, a search party
has been deployed to find the missing policeman while all security
operatives in Southern Ijaw LGA have been alerted and efforts are
on-going to arrest the culprits