Nigerian forces kill 7 militants in oil-producing state
Xinhua, October 19, 2016 Adjust font size:
Nigerian forces have killed seven oil militants and pirates suspected to be responsible for an unrest in the country's oil-producing region, a military spokesman said Wednesday.
The suspects, including five oil militants and two pirates, were shot dead in various military operations carried out since Monday in the oil-producing Cross River State, Thomas Osuji, spokesman for the military Joint Task Force, told Xinhua.
He said three other suspects have been held by the government forces.
One of the military operations led to the rescue of some kidnapped victims from a boat in the Bakassi district of the state, Osuji added.
The Nigerian government had deployed the military Joint Task Force to restore safety in the restive oil-producing region, as more young men there take up arms to sabotage oil production and undermine government's efforts.
The troops said they had intensified patrols of the creeks in the Niger Delta and urged the public to support the military by providing timely information. Endit