Two persons, a soldier and a policeman, were killed when gunmen reportedly attacked a military checkpoint in Oton, a suburb of Sapele in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State.
Sources said that both men were shot dead when the bandits attacked the military post at the entrance of the community through the river.
A security source, who craved anonymity, said that the gunmen exchanged gunfire with the security men on the post “and another batch of soldiers that heard the gunshots moved in to help battle the intruders, as I speak, one soldier has been confirmed dead.”
The attackers were said to have fled the scene and made their way into the creek they came from.
A community source also disclosed that the gunmen stormed the community through the Oton River in Sapele to kidnap some prominent persons in the area.
The source, however, said the security operatives were repelling the bandits when gunshots from the invading gunmen killed the two operatives.
It was not clear if any of the bandits was killed during the onslaught, which sources claimed had since caused tension in the community as the people are afraid of possible military attack following the massive deployment of men of 19th Battalion Nigerian Army, Koko, to the community.
Meanwhile, men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, yesterday, invaded Otonyasere community in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State.
Men of the 19th battalion, Koko, Delta State, who carried out the joint operation invaded the community in search of guns said to have been carted away by the gunmen, who killed the two operatives.
Reacting to the incident, Ashe Victor, a resident of the community said: “We have all vacated our houses and as I speak to you, we are in the bush and soldiers have completely taken over our homes”.