Breaking News: War in the creeks, heavy gun battle reported in N'Delta on Thursday

PARIS, DECEMBER 9, 2016: (DGW) REPORTS available to DailyGlobeWatch say heavy gun battle between the Nigerian military and militants in the creeks of Akpabuyo and Bakassi on Thursday thus sending fears into the residents of the region.

 Commander of ODS’ Sector 4 which comprises Cross River and Akwa Ibom States,  attached to Operation Delta Safe (ODS) Col Usman Mukhtar confirmed this today.

He said the military acting on a tip-off immediately deployed and counter attacked the militants and overpowered them after fierce gun battle.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Calabar, he said "Troops of Sector 4 acting promptly on a tip-off by local traders around Ikang axis in Bakassi that militants were robbing innocent civilians in wooden boats carrying rice from Cameroon, stormed the area and were able to effectively cordon out the criminals who engaged them in a fire-fight that lasted over 15 minutes. The militants were onboard 2 flying boats mounted with a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) with 8 armed militants each.
   

He said they were able to capture one of the militant leaders by name, Mr Kingsley Effiong Essien and recovered weapons from him.

These include items such as two speed boats, two General Purpose Machine Gun, 200 Horsepower boat Engine (HP), two 150 Horsepower boat Engine, one 75 HP Engine boat and one small wooden boat mounted with 9.9 HP Engine. 

Other items recovered were three AK47 magazines, 306 rounds of GPMG 7.62 millimetre (mm), Browning  Machine Gun (BMG) ammunition, one round of 12.7 millimetre BMG feeding tray, 3 empty ammunition boxes, one dagger knife, empty cases and links. 6 touch light, 7 tins of magi, 2 school bags, 3 tecno handsets and 1 Nokia handset, 2 Etisalat SIM cards, 2 Airtel lines, one memory cards, charms, 4 military camouflage jackets, one Nigerian Navy head warmer, Camel bag (water bottle), 4 big raps of Indian hemp, packets of condoms and 12.7 millimetres BMG rounds and accessories.

He said the arrested militants are currently being interrogated.