Four suspected vandals killed in gun duel with Navy

4 suspected pipeline vandals were shot dead during a gun battle with a team of Naval personnel at Abule-Oba, Ikorodu in Lagos State.

Four suspected pipeline vandals were Thursday night shot dead during a gun battle with a team of Naval personnel at Abule-Oba, Ikorodu in Lagos State.

It was gathered that the suspects numbering about 60, were in the creeks apparently getting set to carry out their activity when the Naval team attached to Ikorodu Anti-pipeline vandalism ,Operation Watse, swoop on them.

The vandals, who had red bands round their heads, were said to have opened fire on the team.

At the end of the shootout, four of the suspected vandals were felled by bullets from the Navy.

Sources said had the vandals succeeded in breaking the pipeline before the arrival of the Navy,   the shooting would have resulted in an inferno.

The sporadic gun shots rattled residents, who fled to avoid stray bullets.

The identity of one of those killed was given as Black berry, who was the suspected leader of the team. Residents who spoke to Chat212, expressed fear over a possible reprisal attack by the fleeing members of the gang.

One of them, who identified herself as Grace Opanachi, said: “We learned that Black berry was killed in the shootout. He was very popular. Even though we are glad that the attack will reduce the activities of pipeline vandals here.

We are however, afraid that the fleeing members of his gang might launch an attack on us, as they may assume we contacted the Navy. “From what we gathered, the gang is said to be responsible for the attack on some security operatives sometime ago. What they do is to sneak into the creeks and lay ambush. Immediately they sight anyone, they will open fire.”