Just In: Unknown Gunmen Kill Six In Oil Vessel Attack In Bayelsa

Suspected pirates have reportedly attacked an oil barge along the waterways of Lutegbene, Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, South-south Nigeria.

It was gathered that the attack which happened on Sunday night, resulted in the killing of four soldiers and two civilians.

Many others who managed to escape by diving into the water and swimming to safety sustained gunshot wounds.

The incident reportedly unsettled the community as troops were said to have mobilised to the area demanding residents to produce the perpetrators.

Confirming the development, sources said soldiers started burning some houses in the area following failures by the residents to identify the suspects.

A source from the council, who spoke in confidence, said the soldiers were escorting the barge from Port Harcourt in Rivers State to Warri in Delta State when it came under attack.

He said: “The soldiers were escorting a barge when gunmen appeared on a speedboat and opened fire on them. They killed four soldiers and two civilians. Others were injured.

“As I am talking to you, soldiers are burning down some houses in the area because they asked the residents to produce the killers”.