Pirates kill two civilians attending funeral in Bayelsa

 Suspected sea pirates, who murdered an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in an ambush in Bayelsa State, also killed two civilians in a separate attack.

It was learnt on Monday that shortly after their encounter with the operatives of the NSCDC on Friday, the pirates killed two persons who were reportedly heading for Agbobiri community in the Southern Ijaw area for a funeral.

A security source said the incident occurred after the gunmen had ambushed the operatives who were coming back from a surveillance duty.

The source said the bodies of the unidentified civilians had been recovered and deposited in a morgue.

The operatives from the anti-vandal unit of the NSCDC, who went to the creeks to check oil installations in the area, were attacked by the pirates resulting in the death of one.

Some divers were said to have recovered the body of the deceased NSCDC operative.

The state Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, confirmed the killing of one of his men.

He said, “The killers would not go unpunished. Our operatives gave a good account of themselves in spite of the surprise attack.”