NSCDC Kills Three Militants In a Shoot-Out In Bayelsa

        Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil
Defence Corps have killed three suspected
Niger Delta militants in Bayelsa State
during a gun duel.
It was learnt that in the shootout, which
reportedly happened on Saturday, two
operatives of the corps sustained gunshot
wounds.
It was further learnt that during the
incident which took place along Snake
Creeks in the Nembe area of the state,
many of the ssuspectehoodlums, who
reportedly attacked the armed civil
defenders, were said to have fled with
gunshot injuries.
Security personnel have recently become
the targets of militants
and sea pirates in
the region, leading to the death of no
fewer than 10 security agents in the last
one month.
Confirming the latest attack, the
Commandant, NSCDC, Bayelsa State
Command, Mr. Desmond Agu, noted that
his men were on patrol when they came
under fire from the suspected militants.
Agu stated, “The NSCDC personnel, while
on patrol along the Snake Creek within
Nembe Creeks, came under heavy attack
from the criminals operating along that
area. After the ensuing gunbattle, three of
the assailants were killed while the rest
escaped with gunshot injuries.
‘’Two NSCDC personnel sustained minor
gunshot injuries but have been treated and
discharged from the Federal Medical
Centre, Yenagoa.”
On the security threats posed by the
recent upsurge in militancy and fears that
oil production in the region might end if the
attacks continued, Agu stated that the
NSCDC and other security agencies were
working assiduously to ensure that the
threats were minimised.
He added, “The militants cannot take over
the creeks because that’s not possible.
The nation belongs to all of us. We are
talking about protecting Nigeria’s critical
assets. We will make sure that in
collaboration with the other agencies, the
pipelines and other assets are protected.
‘’We are ensuring that this thing is
minimised so that Nigeria will enjoy peace.
Nigeria depends largely on oil. On the
destruction of pipelines, we are at red
alert.”
He said the corps recently arrested one
Tama Emmanuel and two others along
Azuzuama for masterminding the
destruction of an Agip flowline at
Ogbounbiri-Tebidaba.

ALSO READ: Five Suspected Niger Delta Militants Arrested,Taken Away By Military

According to the Commandant, a
coordinated massive operation at an illegal
bunkering point at Otuegwe 2, Ogbia
Forest, also led to the destruction of the
site and arrest of 15 vandals.
“Those that are determined to make sure
we do not sleep, let them look for
something else to do. Nothing is in the
pipelines except destruction and pollution.
Right now, there’s no fish and no farm.
They blow pipelines and blame everybody
else,” he said.
Agu said the NSCDC would not be deterred
by the activities of the militants “because
Nigeria is bigger than few individuals.”
He added, “The police, soldiers and Navy
are working together. Their attacks will not
intimidate us. As a small child, it was
illegal to possess arms, even dane guns,
now you have sophisticated weapons
everywhere.’’
He commended the Federal Government
for supporting the corps, but added that
“like Oliver Twist, it’s never enough.’’
Agu also listed the arrest of one ‘General’
Yere, wanted for vandalising oil facilities in
Pirigbene, Southern Ijaw; the destruction
of over 400 illegal refineries and repelling
of several kidnap attempts by kidnappers
and sea pirates attempting to invade
communities in Sagbama as some of the
successes the security agency had
recorded recently.