No fewer than five military personnel were feared killed in the attack,coming about four months after seven officers of the Department of State Security (DSS) were ambushed, killed and allegedly buried in shallow graves by vandals at Ishawo , Ikorodu in Lagos State.
The latest attack occurred at Wawa area of Arepo, said to be the new den of the criminals who have recently come under severe pressure from the joint security Anti-Pipeline vandalism operation codenamed AWATSE.
Coordinated by the Defence Headquarters, operation AWATSE is made up of personnel from the Navy (NN), Army (NA), Airforce (NAF), Police, DSS and the Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
It was gathered that the criminals launched a reprisal against the security agents who dislodged them on Wednesday.
Security operatives had stormed the area in the wee hours of Wednesday following a tip off that vandals had caused a pipeline explosion while siphoning fuel.
It was gathered that the criminals who had loaded a tanker as well as dozens of jerry cans , engaged the operatives in a gun duel but were soon overpowered.
The tanker and other stolen products allegedly caught fire, while some of the vandals who survived were said to have retreated.
But the criminals, it was gathered, regrouped on Thursday night, started a fire and while the military operatives headed towards that direction to know the cause of the inferno, they were ambushed and killed.
Three corpses were said to have been retrieved last night while two were still missing.
END
This is unacceptable.hw can vanders ambush security personnel.what d DHQ Shd do is to investigate vry well check their hideout,get their sponsorer and kill all of dem.then d other pple who want to join will retreat.