What could have been another destruction of oil and gas facilities in Bayelsa State was botched by the Nigerian Army on Sunday.
In the early hours of Saturday, the Niger Delta Avengers group blew up pipelines belonging to Agip in Nembe, Bayelsa State.
The Nigerian Army said on Sunday that troops on patrol in the region averted attacks by militants on some critical oil infrastructures.
According to a statement by Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman, soldiers of 343 Artillery Regiment and of 2 Brigade, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in the early hours of today carried out patrol within the general area of Gulobokri and Eweleso, around Brass area in Bayelsa State.
Usman said the patrol team encountered some armed militants in two speed boats with intent to blow up Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) pipeline in Gulobokri.
He said the suspected militants opened fire on the patrol team, explaining that: “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.”
He added that: “No casualty on the patrol team. Unfortunately, a staff 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.”
Usman also said another patrol team of the same unit of the 82 Division Nigerian Army, on patrol to Perigbene House Boat (HB) also encountered three Speed boats suspected to be containing militants about to attack another critical infrastructure in the area.
He said: “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.”
He added that 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.
He Usman assured that troops would continue to intensify patrol in the general area to avert further vandalization or attacks in the area.
