By Tom Garba, Yola and Chidi Roberts, Port Harcourt
Three soldiers have been killed in Izige, Madagali Local Government, Adamawa State by insurgents.
But troops immediately launched a counter attack, dislodged the Boko Haram elements which led to many of them being injured.
Two vigilante members were also killed by the insurgents on Monday.
A resident of the town told Freedom Online: “They engaged the military for hours, killing three soldiers and two vigilante members before they were finally overpowered and fled through the connecting bush but they removed some corpses of their fighters”, he stated.
In Bayelsa State, two soldiers were also killed on the Ogbia-Nembe Road.
An expatriate was also kidnapped by the hoodlums on Tuesday.
The victims were attached to Setraco Nigeria Limited, the construction firm handling a road project awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)
While condemning the killings and abduction, the acting Managing Director of NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, described the incident as `saddening’ saying the road was meant to bring development to the Niger Delta Region.
“ The road project is undertaken by the commission in partnership with Shell to open up communities along this stretch, all the way to Nembe and then Brass.
“It will improve commerce, reduce incidents of piracy and improve the living conditions of the people,” she said.
She said that the first phase of the road project could have been ready for inauguration later this month, but would not be possible because contractors are pulling out of site.
She said that development could not be carried out in an insecure environment.
“ I call on communities of the Niger Delta, civil society organisations, governments and government agencies, the security agencies to do all that is necessary within the law to bring an end to this,” she said.
She also called on the security agencies, communities, local and state governments to guarantee the safety of personnel and infrastructure at all sites.
