Gunmen attacked a military checkpoint, killing one person and injuring an army officer in Ogboinbiri Community at a wellhead owned by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) at Seibou oil field in the Southern Ijaw Local Government area of Bayelsa State.
The gun battle which occurred in the early hours of Monday morning was said to have lasted three hours leading to the killing of one of the suspected militants.
The deceased is said to be from Ukparatubo Community in Southern Ijaw.
According to SaharaReporters, sources within the community said that the gunmen stormed the military checkpoint in three boats and shot at the soldiers at about 6am on Sunday.
The soldiers who were on duty and providing security at SPDC engaged the armed men in a gun battle.
The source said; “the soldiers shot dead one of the boys but one of the soldiers was wounded. The soldier is identified as Job and his rifle was taken away.”
Attempts to get a reaction from the spokesman of the 16 Division of the Nigerian Army in Bayelsa, Captain Victor Odukoya, were unsuccessful.
Military sources, however, confirmed the development, insisting that efforts were ongoing to recover the stolen military rifle and arrest the culprits.