Two soldiers have been confirmed dead and several others injured in another boat mishap involving a military patrol team around the creeks of Egwa 1 near a Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (SPDC) flowstation in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.Community sources said the incident occurred at about 10am on Friday.
A soldier on escort duty also died on Thursday when a hand-paddled boat he boarded to cross the Taylor Creek capsized, raising questions about the training and suitability of troops deployed to the predominantly riverine region.
The latest development has thrown the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shied and the Nigerian Army Battalion, Effurun, into mourning. Sources in the area confirmed the incident, but could not give details.
A senior military officer, who later confirmed the incident, said the military boat was carrying about 10 soldiers when it capsized. The officer said they were on a routine patrol of oil installations around Egwa 1 community when the incident occurred.
It was further gathered that those who sustained various degrees of injuries have been taken to an undisclosed hospital in Warri.
“We lost two of our gallant soldiers to a boat mishap early this morning around Egwa 1in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
"They were patrolling the creeks when the incident happened and reports reaching us said many were injured,” said the officer, who did not wish to be named.
JTF spokesman Col. Isa Ado could not be reached for response. Calls to his phone went unanswered just as a text message sent to him attracted no reply.