FROM EMMANUEL OGOIGBE WARRI

TWO soldiers have been confirmed dead and several others injured in a boat mis­hap involving military patrol team around the creeks of Egwa 1 near Warri in Warri South West Local Govern­ment Area of Delta State.

Sources told our corre­spondent that the incident occurred Friday at 10am as a military gunboat involved in the search of Niger Delta militants had an accident.

The incident, it was learnt, has thrown the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shied and 3 Battalion of the Nigerian Army Effurun into mourning.

Community sources also confirmed the incident but could not give details.

They also said that the in­cident has increased tension in the creeks of Delta as no­body knows how the military will react to the incident.

A senior military officer, who later confirmed the incident, said the military boat was carrying about 10 soldiers when it capsized. The officer said they were on a normal routine patrol of oil installations around the Egwa 1 community when the incident occurred.

It was further gathered that those who sustained var­ious degrees of injuries have been conveyed to an undis­closed hospital for medical care in the oil city of Warri.

“We lost two of our sol­diers to boat mishap early this morning (Friday)around Egwa 1 in Warri South West area. They were patrolling the creeks when the incident happened. Report reaching us says scores were injured”, the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

Attempt to get the Com­manding Officer (CO) 3Battalion, Effurun Bar­racks, Major Monday Azanku to confirm the development did not yield result as calls to his mobile phone did not go through.

Col. Isa Ado, JTF’s spokesman could not be reached for response as well. Calls and a text mes­sage sent to his telephone line were equally not an­swered or replied.

Meanwhile, Ijaw mili­tants yesterday blew up the multi billions naira Escravos gas pipeline in Warri South West Local Government. The incident according to a depend­able source has created a lot of tension resulting in sporadic shooting between militants and soldiers just as villagers around the en­vironment have fled into the bush for safety. Con­sequently, more military men have been deployed to the troubled riverine communities.