Gunmen attack military post in Bayelsa, kill oil worker

Gunmen at the weekend attacked a military post at Kolo Creek in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State and took away arms and ammunition but the spokesman of the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, Lt. Col Isa Ado, could not confirm the seizure, saying he will only react when he gets to the JTF headquarters.

It was gathered that the incident which took soldiers on guard at the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) gas facility unawares, led to the death of an oil worker.

Mr Austin Ikechukwu Igwe, an uncle of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Youths, George Turner, was caught in the cross fire while leaving the gas complex.

Our correspondent learnt that the authorities of the Operation Pulo Shield have commenced investigations into the incident.

Sources said the gunmen who arrived the area in a black SUV stormed the post and took away the arms and ammunition.

“What we learnt was that the gunmen who drove in an SUV stopped close to the army post, walked into the post and dismantled a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG). They took it and other rifles and ammunition, entered their vehicle and zoomed source said.

The chairman of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Ogbia Clan, Mr. Osanya B. Osanya, condemned the attack and urged security agencies to be vigilant, especially in view of the coming elections in the state, saying some politicians were desperate and could do anything, including sponsoring violence and bloodshed to win the election.

“The leadership under my watch will as a matter of importance partner with security agencies to rid our council of criminality. We also advise our youths to be at alert and not allow some politicians to use them as willing tools to destroy our council”, he said.

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