Armed gunmen on Wednesday, killed security operatives and workers of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Okoroma and Ogbokiri-Akassa communities of Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State.
It was reported that the gunmen attacked them at an oil facility at Nembe swamp.
Some other persons sustained varying degrees of injuries during the attack.
Agip in a statement said it’s murdered personnel were working for the restoration of mangroves in swamp seriously damaged by oil spill which has been attributed to the activities of illegal refineries and sabotages.
The company said, “With deep sorrow, Eni confirms that a group of Eni contractors accompanied by security operatives were attacked by an armed group causing as far as we know 3 fatalities and 2 injuries.
“Contractors were working at a Mangrove Restoration project, which envisages the restoration of mangroves in the Swamp area of Nigeria, seriously damaged by illegal refineries and spills due to sabotages.
“A very precarious and worsening general security situation is confirmed in the Swamp area, which put in danger and harms the company people and contractors, as well as the local communities.”
The spokesman of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Bayelsa State, Solomon Ogbere, confirming the incident said NSCDC officers were also killed and other officers who sustained injuries in the attack were responding to treatment.
He said investigation is ongoing to unravel the cause of the attack.
