Gunmen suspected to be militants have reportedly ambushed a patrol team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at Igbomotoru community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, killing a yet-to-be-identified officer.
According to a community source, the NSCDC patrol squad had just returned from an operation targeting illegal bunkering sites in the area when the ambush occurred.
The Igbomotoru community has recently become increasingly restive, with bunkering activities reportedly on the rise due to the area’s riverine nature. The attack, believed to have taken place near the Koluama creeks—a known hotspot for oil theft and militant operations—was described by witnesses as a coordinated assault. The gunmen allegedly opened fire on the NSCDC patrol boat using high-caliber weapons.
Sources linked the assault to pipeline vandalism syndicates who are believed to have carried out the attack in retaliation for ongoing crackdowns on illegal operations. During the gunfight, one officer was fatally shot, while others sustained injuries and are now receiving treatment at a medical facility in Yenagoa.
Just last week, suspected vandals blew up the Ogboinbiri/Obiobi 24-inch Gas Pipeline between Angiama and Angiamagbene in the same local government area. The pipeline, operated by Oando Plc, supplies gas to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) facility in Bonny, Rivers State.
Security concerns in the region have escalated since last year’s military invasion of the community in search of a militant leader accused of orchestrating the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama community, Delta State.
When contacted on Sunday, April 13, NSCDC spokesman for the Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Solomon Ogbere, confirmed knowledge of the incident but said he was still awaiting a full briefing.
He stated: “The information, sincerely speaking, we’ve gotten it but I’m still waiting for the OC to give me a comprehensive report, but you are not actually far from the truth anyway, but I can’t actually speak on it because I have not gotten the exact details but by tomorrow (Monday), I will be speaking on good authority by telling you that this is what actually transpired and this is casualty rate and this is what happened.
“But something of such took place but I’ve not gotten the comprehensive report on it yet.”
