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Heavily armed men suspected to be Niger Delta militants on Monday, June 29 invaded the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Base in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, killing an officer and carting away 10 rifles.
The Police and residents of the area, who confirmed the incident, said the gunmen attacked the base at about 9pm.
The Nigerian Customs Marine Base is located at Esin Ufot, a fishing community in Oron Local Government Area.
It was gathered that the area had come under consistent attacks by the hoodlums in recent times.
A source lamented that the militants were becoming more daring by the day and have been wreaking havoc in many communities in the riverine area. According to the source, the militants have raided the police station, the Nigerian Immigrations Service (NIS) barracks and key fishing settlements in the area. “The situation is becoming very critical nowadays as the militants now attack security operatives and local fishermen alike. The other day, they ransacked a police station and later they attacked an Immigration Base. From Oron waterway to Uta Ewa in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, the militants have been robbing and killing people almost on a daily basis,” the source said.
“The last time it happened here in Oron, they invaded and overpowered the Marine Police and carted away their arms while the policemen fled for their lives,” it added.
The source insisted that the militants were better armed than operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Immigrations Service.
Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Gabriel Achong, confirmed the attack. He, however, said the attack was an isolated case, denying there had been repeated attacks in the area.
By Pita Ochai
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