Four soldiers and two drivers were shot dead by gunmen who are suspected of being kidnappers on Tuesday morning when they ambushed a convoy of Daewoo employees along the Ahoada/Abua exis along the East-West Road in Rivers State.
Two Korean expatriate workers in the entourage were also abducted by the gunmen.
According to information obtained by Platinum Times, the event happened at 9:30 am and spread chaos throughout the East-West Road.
According to a security source who verified the news, a group of foreigners being escorted by soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s 5 Battalion ambushed a group of suspected kidnappers near Rivers State’s Ahoada-Obua Road.
According to him,
“During the attack, the assailants opened fire on the convoy killing four soldiers and two civilian drivers and subsequently abducted two Koreans in the process.
“Details are still sketchy but efforts are ongoing to get more details from the units. Further details will be forwarded as soon as possible.”
In a statement, the 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt, confirmed the killing of its four personnel, noting that the act was carried out by suspected militants.
The Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division, Army Public Relations, Major Jonah Danjuma, in a statement in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday evening, stated that the militants killed four of its men, and two drivers and abducted two foreigners.
Danjuma disclosed that the military had commenced efforts to track down the culprits, noting that efforts were also on to secure unconditional freedom for the two abducted workers.
He said:
“Troops of 5 Battalion on routine escort duty for an oil servicing company at Enweh West manifold, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State were attacked by suspected militants at Emesu junction, along Amungboro-Emuphan road.
“Unfortunately, four soldiers were killed in action, with two other oil workers unaccounted for.
“The suspects allegedly escaped through the Emesu waterside, using the Orashi River. Troops are currently combing the general area to fish out the perpetrators of this dastardly act.
“Additionally, efforts are ongoing to ensure that the unaccounted oil workers are found.
“The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army/ Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South-South, Operation DELTA Safe, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, while acknowledging the supreme sacrifice paid by the gallant soldiers, strongly condemned this unwarranted attack.”