Gunmen kill soldiers, kidnap workers at road project site in Rivers

Gunmen reportedly targeted and killed two soldiers linked to the Ekaago-Ogboloma-Adada Road project in Rivers State’s Abia/Odual Local Government Area on Friday. The project, approved by the state government, was ongoing at the time.

The assailants also seized an expatriate and three other project employees, forcibly taking them from the site. The main objective seemed to be the abduction of the foreign project overseer, as suggested by accounts. The attackers allegedly took the deceased soldiers’ firearms and escaped with the foreman and three workers, accompanied by a farmer they encountered.

An anonymous source from the local community shared that after capturing the hostages, the criminals fired shots into the air before escaping through a nearby river located in the Akani community within Abia/Odual LGA.

In response to the incident, residents of Emelego, Ogboloma, and Okolomade communities reportedly fled their homes due to heightened fears. The source explained that the attackers had planned an ambush at the road construction site to kidnap the foreign supervisor. Upon spotting the soldiers, the assailants opened fire, resulting in the soldiers’ deaths.

The soldiers’ rifles were reportedly taken, and the attackers fled through the Esala River, leading to the army’s subsequent arrest operations in Emelego and Ogboloma communities. However, fear and panic have gripped the area as residents remain uncertain about the army’s future actions.

Lt.-Col Iweha Ikedishi, spokesperson for the 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt, did not respond to journalists’ phone calls regarding the incident.