Niger Delta militants

A coordinated water and land attack on a Nigerian military base in Nembe, Bayelsa state, has raised some questions about the motives of the attackers.

Initial report was that the attack on Friday night, in which four soldiers and a mobile policeman were killed, was staged by pirates involved with oil bunkering in the region.

But with more information about the attack, it is now being linked to the militants, who according to the terms of the Presidential amnesty, ought to have disarmed.

Witnesses said the militants hit the military base in four speed boats, with support by gunmen on land.

Reports said they ransacked the base and took their time to cart away all the rifles and ammunition of the security operatives.

An army gunboat was also said to have been taken away by them.

A source who described the incident as horrific said the security operatives were overwhelmed by the number and sophisticated weapons of the attackers.

Meanwhile, the military has commenced a massive manhunt for the gunmen, Nigerian Defence Headquarters said on Saturday while confirming the incident.

The Bayelsa Police Command had earlier in the day indicated that four soldiers and a policeman were killed in an attack on Nembe waterways by armed gunmen, suspected to be pirates on Friday night.

Asinim Butswat, spokesperson for the Bayelsa State Police Command said the gunmen who came in four speedboats suspected to be sea pirates attacked the Joint Task Force (JTF) base, at Nembe Water Front, in Nembe LGA at about 11.30 pm on Friday.

He added that the gunmen also looted the armoury of the base, taking away some guns.

Colonel Rabe Abubakar, Acting Director, Defence Information said in the statement that the incident is being investigated and the Joint Task Force Operation PULO SHIELD has moved into action to arrest and apprehend the perpetrators of this unpatriotic and callous attacks.

“The military will deal decisively with anybody or group involved in this and similar acts of attacks or sabotage on the nation’s economy.

“The general public in the affected community are advised to go about their normal business activities and solicit their cooperation by given timely information to the military or any other security agencies to avert future re-occurrence of this ugly incidence.

“The Defence Headquarters is reiterating its commitment to ensuring the protection of lives and properties of innocent citizens nationwide,” said Colonel Abubakar