- Attack believed to be aimed at enabling foreman’s abduction
- Gunmen fired shots into the air before fleeing through a nearby river
On Friday two soldiers linked to the Ekaago-Ogboloma-Adada Road project in the Abia/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State were reportedly killed by gunmen.
The armed individuals also reportedly kidnapped an expatriate and three other individuals who were employed at the project site, which was sanctioned by the state government and was in progress.
Reports suggest that the gunmen targeted and killed the two soldiers in order to facilitate the abduction of the foreign foreman overseeing the project.
Furthermore, the attackers allegedly took the firearms of the deceased soldiers and forcibly took away the foreman, as well as three additional workers from the construction site, along with a farmer they encountered while making their escape.
According to a confidential source from the local community, who chose to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, the criminals fired shots into the air after capturing their hostages before fleeing through a nearby river located in the Akani community within Abia/Odual LGA.
As a result of this incident, residents from the Emelego, Ogboloma, and Okolomade communities have reportedly fled their homes due to heightened fears.
The source stated, “Some hoodlums came to the Ogboloma road construction site on Tuesday with the intention of kidnapping the white manhandling the road project. They laid an ambush and waited for them to resume duty. So, on sighting the army, they shot and killed the two personnel.
“They also kidnapped the foreman, three other workers, and one farmer who was returning from the farm in Ogboloma community. They took away the rifles of the soldiers and escaped through Esala River after serious shooting.”
“With this, the army came to make some arrests in Emelego and Ogboloma communities but we are all living in fear. We all have been sleeping in the bush; there is panic everywhere because we don’t know the next move the army will make.”
Spokesperson for the 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt, Lt.-Col Iweha Ikedishi, did not respond to phone calls from journalists.