An oil barge along the waterways of Lutegbene, Ekeremor local government area in Bayelsa state has been attacked by unknown gunmen suspected to be pirates.
WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that the gunmen, who launched the vicious attack killed four soldiers escorting the barge and two civilians.
It was further learnt that other people in the ill-fated vessel were said to have escaped with gunshot wounds by diving into the water and swimming to safety.
According to THE NATION, the incident occurred on Sunday night and there were reports that the incident unsettled the community as troops were said to have mobilised to the area demanding residents to produce the perpetrators.
According to multiple sources who confirmed the development, angry soldiers had started burning some houses in the area following failures by the residents to identify the suspects.
A source from the council, who spoke in confidence, said the soldiers were escorting the barge from Port Harcourt in Rivers State to Warri, in Delta State, when it came under attack.
He said: “The soldiers were escorting a barge when gunmen appeared on speedboat and opened fire on them. They killed four soldiers and two civilians. Others were injured.
“As I am talking to you, soldiers are burning down some houses in the area because they asked the residents to produce the killers.”
When contacted the Spokesman for the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe, Eromosele Unuakhalu, could not answers his telephone calls.