Seven Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) members were reportedly slain by highly armed suspected maritime pirates on the Bakana River in Rivers State’s Degema Local Government Area.
When the NSCDC men were assaulted by sea pirates, they were on a pipeline monitoring patrol on the river, around 12 kilometres from Bakana town.
Two sea pirates were evenly slain in a gun battle on Friday, according to reputable sources in the area who verified the occurrence to Chronicle NG on Sunday.
Chronicle NG also saw a 29-second video recording of the murdered Civil Defence men aboard a speed boat, with a voice naming each of them.
Two of the victims, both Muslims, were buried according to Islamic customs.
Though the Command in Rivers State has yet to acknowledge the occurrence, a local fisherman told Chronicle NG that everyone on the boat transporting the officers was killed.
When reached, DSC Olufemi Ayodele, the State NSCDC Public Relations Officer, stated that the Command is presently gathering additional information on the event and that a formal comment will be released at the proper time.