Unidentified gunmen launched an attack on Nigeria’s Joint Task Force (JTF) at Bregede in Bonny Local Government Area in Rivers State, security sources reported on Thursday.
The gunmen suspected of links to militants operating in oil rich southeast Niger Delta attacked JTF soldiers on Wednesday.
On board five speed boats, the gunmen launched the raid on JTF men who were in a gunboat around Bregede in the Bonny general area at about 6:00 p.m. local time.
Rabe Abubakar, the coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Center (JMCC), who confirmed the attack in a statement to Xinhua, said the attack was eminently repelled. Two of their men were wounded in action while the armed miscreants sustained heavy casualties.
“Those who managed to escape did so with gun shot wounds of various degrees,” he added.
Abubakar condemned the unguided and unprovoked attack on the JTF, which he said is in the region to ensure security and economic development.
He said the latest attack would not press the force to carry out a full-fledged onslaught on the militant’s locations in the communities as they are just few in number.
He renewed the JTF pledge to protect lives and all key points and venerable points in that part of the country.