On Monday, December 12, a convoy carrying Daewoo employees was ambushed by an unknown group of gunmen along the Ahoada/Abua section of the East-West Road in Rivers State. Two of the workers were abducted, while four of the soldiers who were accompanying the expatriates were killed in the attack.
In statement, Maj. Danjuma Danjuma, the Acting Deputy Director of the 6 Division of the Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt, stated that the attack took place at Emesu Junction along Amungboro-Emuphan Road early Monday morning .
The statement went on to confirm that two oil workers are still missing and that four soldiers were killed in action. After the attack, the suspected militants reportedly fled via the Orashi River and the Emesu waterside.
“Suspected militants attacked troops of 5 Battalion on routine escort duty for an oil servicing company at Enweh West Manifold in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers.
“The convoy was attacked at Emesu Junction, along Amungboro-Emuphan Road in the local government area.
“Unfortunately, four soldiers were killed in action while two other oil workers are unaccounted for,” he said.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 6 Division and Commander of the Land Component of Joint Task Force, South South, Operation Delta Safe, Maj.-Gen. Jamal Abdussalam, condemned the attack and swore to prosecute those responsible. He expressed gratitude to the deceased troops and reassured the people that his forces were diligently looking for the attackers and the missing personnel.
“Troops are currently combing the general area to fish out the perpetrators of this dastardly act while efforts are ongoing to ensure the unaccounted oil workers are found.
“Maj.-Gen. Jamal Abdussalam, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division and Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South South, Operation Delta Safe, has condemned this unwarranted attack.
“The GOC, while acknowledging the supreme sacrifice paid by the gallant soldiers, has reassured that the criminals would be tracked down to pay for their crimes,” the statement read.
The public is being asked to offer any reliable information that could help in the culprits' arrest by the army.
