Report reaching us indicated that the soldiers ran into an ambush set up by militants in the volatile state.
This is even as the Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of two soldiers by suspected sea pirates in Rivers State.
Captain Elli Lazarus, the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, said that a Major and one soldier were killed after an exchange of gunfire with suspected sea pirates in Abonnema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area.
“At about 11am on Thursday, March 17, troops on patrol in Abonnema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers had a fierce encounter with a group of unknown gunmen suspected to be sea pirates.
“Our men displayed extraordinary gallantry, but unfortunately, an officer and a soldier, who sustained various degrees of injury during the encounter, lost their lives.
“We are currently in pursuit of the criminals and we will surely apprehend them.”
Lazarus, however, urged residents of the state to go about their lawful activities without fear of molestation.
He assured them that the Army had made necessary arrangements to ensure sustainable peace and security of lives and properties before, during and after the parliamentary elections in the state. [myad]
