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Suspected sea pirates kill two Nigerian soldiers: army

Xinhua, March 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Nigerian Army on Thursday confirmed the killing of two soldiers by suspected sea pirates in oil rich Rivers State.

Army spokesman Captain Eli Lazarus in Port Harcourt confirmed the deaths in a clash he called a "fierce encounter with a group of unknown gunmen suspected to be sea pirates."

He said a major and one soldier died from their wounds sustained during an exchange of gunfire in Abonema area of the state.

"We are currently in pursuit of the criminals and we will surely apprehend them," he said.

The killing came barely 48 hours before Saturday's re-run for seats in the Rivers state assembly and the national assembly in Abuja.

The spokesman assured that the army had made arrangements to ensure peace and security of lives and properties for the parliamentary elections in the state. Endit