An army officer simply identified as Major Luke and a soldier were yesterday shot dead on the waterways of Abonnema-Kalabari, the headquarters of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State by people described as thugs. The thugs reportedly opened fire on the soldiers, injuring five others. The attack came ahead of tomorrow’s legislative rerun across the 23 local government areas of the volatile Niger Delta state.
The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Capt. Eli Lazarus, who confirmed the “barbaric act”, which heightened tension in the state, revealed that the soldiers were in pursuit of the criminals, who he said would surely be apprehended.
Capt. Lazarus said: “At 11 am on March 17, 2016, troops on patrol along the waterways in the general area of Abonnema had a fierce encounter with a group of unknown gunmen, suspected to be sea pirates. “Our men displayed extraordinary gallantry during the encounter. Unfortunately, an officer and a soldier, who sustained various degree of injury, lost their lives.
