Three suspected cultists reportedly lost their lives in a fierce gun battle on Tuesday with soldiers at Obuburu community in Rivers state, just as the Joint Force in the Niger Delta, code named Operation Pulo Shield also shot dead one of the suspected militants that killed two soldiers in Bayelsa State recently.
Community sources at Obuburu community, Ogba Egbema Ndoni local government area, Rivers State ,said the soldiers first encountered cultists in the community in a gun battle about a month ago but they could not dislodge the hoodlums from the area.
The sources added the soldiers had to go back to reinforce before storming the place again on Tuesday leading to the killing.
“About a month ago, the soldiers engaged the cultists in the community but could not really do much because of the purported charms the boys had which made it impossible for bullets to penetrate their bodies. This time the soldiers had to come back with greater force, killing three of them in the gun battle,” the source said.
The soldiers reportedly deployed Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and other superior firepower to the area on Tuesday for the battle.
In related development, the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta code named Operation Pulo Shield yesterday said its operatives shot dead one of the suspected militants that killed two soldiers on the Ogbia-Nembe Road in the Bayelsa East senatorial district.
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