Troops of the Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe, on Wednesday killed four suspected criminals in a fire exchange during an attack on a military boat in Bayelsa State.
The Commander, OPDS, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman, made the disclosure at a news conference at the outfit’s headquarters at Igbogene, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Suleiman, who represented by the Deputy Force Commander/Land Component Commander, Brig.-Gen. Kevin Aligbe, said that four soldiers were injured while an unnamed civilian lost his life in the shoot-out between the troops and the bandits.
The commander said, “Some faceless criminals attacked own troops deployed in Tuma House Boat in Rivers State about 4.30am on Wednesday.
“The bandits were repelled by vigilant troops and four bandits lost their lives. Other bandits suffered heavy casualties while a few of them ran into an adjoining creek.
“Efforts are ongoing to fish them out and ascertain the actual numbers of the criminals killed during the duel.
”Unfortunately, four soldiers were injured while one civilian died. Let me reiterate that the OPDS will do everything within the law to crack down on these criminals and their sponsors wherever they are”.
