Army kills 7 militants in Bakassi, recover arms

Troops from the 13 Brigade Nigerian Army Calabar, at the early hours of Friday, repelled an attack on its soldiers by killing seven armed militants at Efut Esighi in Bakassi local government area of Cross River.

Capt. Kayode Owolabi, Army Public Relations Officer (APRO) who disclosed this to newsmen on Friday in Calabar, said that the militants attacked the Army post in Efut Esighi.

Owolabi linked the militants to be `boys’ of the most wanted militant leader, Benjamin Ene a.k.a `G1’ who has been on the wanted list of security agencies in the state.

“The very determined troops from the 13 Brigade and Operation Delta Safe repelled an attack from armed militants at Efut Esighi in Bakassi local government area this morning.

“The militants tried to attack the Army post in Efut Esighi. Some of them were wearing Nigerian military camouflage.

“We recovered 250 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, rocket propelled gun luncher, GPMG belt links and various charms on their bodies. Other militants escaped with very serious gun shots injuries.

“There was no casualty on the side of the military. Our men were in full combatant during the attack.

“We have also destroyed their camps and shrines in the creeks,’’ he said.

The APRO said that the 13 Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen. Bulama Biu, had warned that no militant group or criminal under any guise would be spared.

Owolabi further said that the military and other security agencies would continue to hunt down any militant group or criminal that did not surrender.

He, however, called on residents in the state to always avail the security agencies with useful and timely information that would enable them curb crime.

NAN recalled that the Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, had on Sept. 24, confirmed that militants killed a soldier at the same spot (Efut Esighi) where the attack was repelled today.