Militants Kill Soldier, NSCDC Officials During Shoot Out In Rivers

Suspected militants have killed a soldier and two operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) during a shoot out on Sunday in Rivers State.

The militants killed the security operatives while they were trying to stop them from vandalizing oil pipelines in the Gio community, Tai area of Rivers.

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According to the spokesman of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, the suspects also carted away the security operatives’ weapons after killing them.

“The suspected militants attacked troops of 29 Battalion, 6 Division, with personnel of NSCDC in the early hours of Sunday,” Iliyasu said in a statement on Monday.

“The team which was guarding Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Trans National Pipelines (TNP) in Gio community prevented the militants from vandalising 24 and 28 of the TNP.

“Unfortunately, during the ensuing gunfire, one soldier and two personnel of NSCDC lost their lives and their weapons, one AK 47 and two G3 rifles, carted away by the assailants,” he said.

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The Army spokesperson further revealed that the army later deployed more troops to the area, adding that one Korobe Menele, a prime suspect in the killing of the security operatives, was shot dead in another gun duel with the troops.

Alleged-notorious-cultist-and-illegal-oil-bunker-Korobe-Menele-killed-by-soldiers-of-Army-6-Division-Port-Harcourt-on-Sunday
Alleged notorious cultist and illegal oil bunker, Korobe Menele killed by soldiers of Army 6-Division in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday

“At about 9 a.m. on Sunday, troops acting on reliable intelligence sighted a white Toyota Hilux that was without number plate. The vehicle was hastily driven with four occupants.

“Efforts to stop the vehicle by troops at a check point were ignored. However, troops chased the speeding vehicle and caught up with it around Kira Junction, along Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic.

“Sensing danger, the occupants opened fire at troops in a bid to escape. But, troops reacted and incapacitated the militants vehicle.

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“Thereafter, they abandoned their vehicle and fled into the bush. However, one of the criminals was gunned down and was later identified as Korob Menele, a notorious cultist and oil bunkering kingpin,” he said.

Iliyasu said the three other fleeing suspects who sustained gunshot injuries during the gun duel are being trailed by the troops.

According to him, one K2 rifle, two magazines with 52 rounds of 5.56mm one number plate, KRK 95DP Rivers, and some personal effects, including documents were recovered from the suspects’ vehicle.

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