What wohkd have been a major blow to the oil and gas sector was averted on Sunday by troops of the Nigeria Army.
Making the feat known, the acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, in a statement issued in Abuja,  confirmed the incident ““In the early hours of today, May 29, troops of 343 Artillery Regiment of 2 Brigade, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, carried out patrol within the general area of Gulobokri and Eweleso. This was around Brass area in Bayelsa State.
“During the exercise, the troops encountered some armed militants who opened fire on the patrol team.
“The troops responded with overwhelming superior firepower and as a result, the suspected criminals sped off from the area with many of them sustaining gunshot wounds.
“Unfortunately, a personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to the team sustained gunshot wound and has since been evacuated and he is in a stable condition,’’ he stressed
He further disclosed that another patrol team of the same unit of 82 Division, Nigerian Army, during the patrol of the area was able to avert attack on an oil facility at Perigbene House Boat in Bayelsa.
He said the troops intercepted three speed boats filled with militants,  who were also on a mission to attack another crude oil pipeline  in the area.
According to the statement,  the troops killed most of the militants while others escaped with gunshot injuries.  Despite the fact that the casualty figure on militants could not be ascertained as it was raining heavily, he added that the  troops could not chase after the militants because of the raging storm .
