JTF, Police Repel Pirates Attack on Oil Installation in Bayelsa     JTF, Police Repel Pirates Attack on Oil Installation in Bayelsa    
From: Arodiegwu Eziukwu, Yenogoa. Following last week’s pirates attack in Bayelsa waterways that left three dead, the daring gunmen stuck again twice on Wednesday.... JTF, Police Repel Pirates Attack on Oil Installation in Bayelsa    
JTFFrom: Arodiegwu Eziukwu, Yenogoa.
Following last week’s pirates attack in Bayelsa waterways that left three dead, the daring gunmen stuck again twice on Wednesday.
 
 Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, however repelled  the attacks from  suspected  pirates on a flow station at Ogboinbiri, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
 
The Marine Division of Bayelsa Police and the JTF engaged the armed gunmen in a gun battle in Gbarain and Ogboinbiri communities of the area on Wednesday night.
 
 Mr Hilary Okpara, Bayelsa Police Commissioner and Lt. Col. Mustapha Anka, Spokesman for JTF both confirmed that a combined effort of the security operatives foiled the attempt to overrun a flow station in Ogboinbiri.


JTF spokesman said that a staff of, Lonestar, an oil service company working in the facility operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company sustained gunshot injury during the operation.
 
Police Commissioner however confirmed that some sea pirates were killed in the shoot out but said that the number of casualties could not be ascertained as the bodies sank into the waters.
 
Opara said the pirates had attacked the rig at Gbarain with the intention of cutting the chain used to secure the gunboat to the rig.


He said if they had succeeded, they would have stolen the gunboat and eventually removed the police guns.


The commissioner said the incident took place at odd hours of Wednesday adding that the suspected pirates who came in a speedboat first opened fire on his men.


“In no distant time, their bodies of the dead pirates would surely float on the waters.


“The pirates came with electric filing tools and a generator. Their aim of coming with those tools was to use the generator to power the machine that would be used to severe the chain used for securing the gunboat to the rig.


“The men attached to the rig were there. After serious exchange of fire, the pirates abandoned the rig. The pirates again came back around 6 am, probably thinking our men had gone.
 
“When they sighted our men, they ran back and some swam in the river to escape.” Okpara said
 

Some of the security men reportedly sustained minor injuries after the incident.


The pirates may have assumed that the security men on duty were sleeping when they arrived the area.

  
The pirates abandoned one of their speedboats loaded with generator and electrical tools and implements.
 

Arodiegwu Eziukwu