by ‘Jola Sotubo

Gunmen suspected to be pirates have shot and killed two soldiers on escort duty in Rivers State. One other soldier has been reported missing after the incident.

The security agents, who were operatives of the JTF, were escorting a number of civilians aboard a boat when they met their untimely demise.

The JTF men were caught unawares by their assailants when they were led into an ambush around the  Ikuru Community in the Adoni Local Government Area of the state.

The Nation reports:

 Another soldier onboard the attacked boat was said to be missing after the incident.

 A security source confirmed that two of the soldiers were killed at the spot with their bodies recovered, while one of them was missing.

 The source, who pleaded anonymity, said the soldiers were escorting civilians when their boat was attacked.

 “They fought gallantly but were unable to escape. They, however, protected the civilians onboard,” he said.

 It was, however, learnt that three of the civilians, including the boat operator, sustained injuries.

 The boat was reportedly conveying workers of the Z-Cube Construction Company, who were on their way to the project site awarded the firm by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

 The pirates were said to be operating on a coastal border between Bayelsa and Rivers states.

 JTF was reportedly angered by the incident.

 The Media Coordinator, JTF, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, lamented the death of the soldiers.

 He said they repelled the attack and defended the lives of the civilians they were escorting at the expense of their lives.

 Nwachukwu described the attack as an ambush and said the outfit was on the trail of the bandits.

 He said: “About 1pm on Tuesday, three of our soldiers fell into an ambush of sea robbers when escorting three civilian workers of Z-Cube Construction Company, moving from end of New Road to Ikuru town in Adoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

 “The workers were on their way to NDDC road construction site. Our troops repelled the attack and defended the lives of the civilians they were escorting at the expense of their lives.

 “They stood by the creed of their profession by paying the supreme sacrifice to ensure the safety of the civilian workers.”

 Nwachukwu said the civilians sustained injuries and were recuperating in hospital.

 He added: “We are on the trail of the criminals, who must be brought to justice. We urge the inhabitants of the area to report any suspicious movement to law enforcement agencies.”