Army confirms killing of a major

dimeji akinloye

March 17, 2016 11:12 PM

He said they were killed after an exchange of gunfire with suspected sea pirates.

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Captain

Pulseearlier reported that an army major and two other soldiers were ambushed and killed in the state, but Lazarus only confirmed the major's death and one soldier.

He said they were killed after an exchange of gunfire with suspected sea pirates in Abonema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the state.

“At about 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 17, troops on patrol in Abonema, 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," Lazarus told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

“We are currently in pursuit of the criminals and we will surely apprehend them,” he added.

It was however not ascertained if the incident was politically inclined as the state has become a hit zone ahead of the senatorial rerun elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, March 19.

dimeji akinloye