Navy Ratings: Soldiers Storm Ijaw Community, Burn Down Houses

Operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS) on Friday stormed Bilabiri community in Ekeremor council area of Bayelsa State.

Naija News reports that the attack in the community was connected to the killing of four Naval ratings and abduction of foreigners by unknown gunmen at Agge coastal area, close to Bilabiri community.

The invasion by soldiers forced residents to flee into the creeks for safety.

The onslaught left debris of burnt thatched houses and torched buildings behind.

A resident from the area, who spoke in confidence, confirmed the military invasion describing it as sad.

He suspected the incident to be a revenge mission but said it was unfortunate the military had chosen such ugly path whenever a crime occurred in an Ijaw community.

Naija News recalls that the attack on the foreigners happened when the gunmen seized a dredger escorted by the operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta.

The gunmen attacked the Sterling Global Dredger causing heavy gun battle between them and the ratings.

The gunbattle, which reportedly lasted for hours led to the killings of the four ratings while others sustained injuries.

The gunmen seized the dredger and abducted two Russian nationals and one Indian.