Army confirms killing of a major in Rivers State

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Captain Elli Lazarus, has confirmed the death of two soldiers in Rivers State.

Pulse earlier 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.