Three gunmen killed, two personnel injured
By Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa
A bloody exchange of gunfire between some operatives
of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
and suspected Niger Delta militants has led to the death
of three members of the gang while two officials of the
corps were injured.
During the incident which took place along the Snake
creeks in Nembe, Bayelsa State, many of the suspected
hoodlums, who reportedly attacked the NSCDC personnel
were said to have fled with gunshot injuries.
Security operatives have recently become the targets of
militants and sea pirates in the Niger Delta region,
leading to the death of at least 10 soldiers and naval
officers in the last one month.
Confirming the latest attack, Mr. Desmond Agu,
Commandant of the NSCDC in the state, noted that his
men were on patrol when they came under fire from the
suspected criminals.
“NSCDC personnel, while on patrol along Snake creek
within Nembe creeks, came under heavy attack from the
criminals operating along that axis. After the ensuing
gun battle, three of the assailants were killed while the
rest escaped with gunshot injuries.
“Two NSCDC personnel sustained minor gunshot injuries
but have been treated and discharged from the Federal
Medical Centre, Yenagoa,’’ Agu said yesterday.
On the security threats posed by the recent upsurge in
the activities of the militants and fears that oil
production in the region might end if the attacks
continue, Agu stated that the NSCDC and the other
security agencies were working seriously to ensure that
threats are minimised.
“The militants cannot take over the creeks because
that’s not possible. The nation belongs to all of us. We
are talking about protecting Nigeria’s critical assets. We
will make sure that in collaboration with the other
agencies, the pipelines and other assets are protected.
“We are ensuring that this thing is minimised so that
Nigeria can breathe. Nigeria depends largely on oil. On
the destruction of pipelines, we are at red alert,’’ he
added.
Other gains recently recorded by the security outfit,
according to him, were the arrest of one Tama
Emmanuel and two others along Azuzuama for
masterminding the destruction of an Agip flow line at
Ogbounbiri-Tebidaba.
According to the Commandant, a coordinated massive
operation at an illegal bunkering den at Otuegwe 2, Ogbia
forest, also led to the destruction of the site and arrest
of 15 vandals.
“Those that are determined to make sure we do not
sleep, let them look for something else to do. Nothing is
in the pipelines except destruction and pollution. Right
now, there are no fish and no farm. They blow pipelines
and blame everybody else.
“The NSCDC, would not be deterred by the activities of
the militants because Nigeria is bigger than individuals.
“The police, soldiers and navy are working together.
Their attacks will not intimidate us. As a small child, it
was illegal to possess arms, even Dane guns, now you
have sophisticated weapons everywhere,” he lamented.
He commended the federal government for supporting
the outfit, but added that ‘ like Oliver Twist, it’s never
enough.
Agu also listed the arrest of one ‘General’ Yere, wanted
for vandalising oil facilities in Pirigbene, Southern Ijaw;
the destruction of over 400 illegal refineries and repelling
several kidnap attempts by kidnappers and sea pirates
attempting to invade communities in Sagbama as some
of the successes recorded recently.
To ensure the motivation of the officers fighting the
vandals in the creeks, the Commandant however called
for the payment of the allowances owed them, stressing
that the officers’ allowances haven’t been paid since the
beginning of the year.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/05/16/militants-in-bloody-clash-with-nscdc-operatives-in-bayelsa-2/

The nation belongs to all of us. We
are talking about protecting Nigeria’s critical assets.

Fulani elder
Mallam guoro.






long live