Tension in Bayelsa as militants kill three soldiers today

Ongoing attacks on security operatives in the Niger Delta region by gunmen suspected to be militants continued yesterday following the killing of three soldiers attached to the Joint Force (JF), Operation Pulo Shield (OPS) in Bayelsa State.

It was gathered that the gunmen, who operated on a speedboat, overran a military outpost at Foropa, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, and gunned down three soldiers.

After killing the victims, the militants reportedly carted away two AK47 riffles, a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and other ammunition at the Foropa checkpoint.

A top security source said the militants struck at about 1.30am yesterday in a surprise attack adding that the soldiers could have been sleeping when the incident occurred.

He said: “It was a surprise attack because the gunmen caught the soldiers unawares. They opened fire on them, killed three of them and carted away their arms and ammunition”.

The source complained that there had been deliberately planned attacks on armed security agents and formations in the region by suspected militants.

He said: “These militants attack security agents ostensibly to steal their arms and ammunition. Criminally-minded youths are stockpiling arms again. This calls for vigilance among security operatives”.

It was gathered that residents of  Foropa were fleeing the community for fear of military invasion and indiscriminate arrest of innocent persons.

The security outfit was said to have evacuated the bodies of the slain soldiers before dawn.

Efforts to contact the spokesman of the security outfit, Col. Isa Ado, proved abortive as calls made to his mobile handset were not answered.

There has been widespread violence in the region following the emergence of a new militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) which has claimed responsibilities for attacks on major oil installations in the region.

President Muhammadu Buhari has already ordered security chiefs to unmask the identities of persons behind the militant group and stop the violence in the region.

The Nation reports.