In the attack on the JTF operatives on Tuesday morning, other soldiers were said to have been injured.
The soldiers were said to be on patrol of the waterways when they ran into the pirates, who reportedly operated on a vessel that looked like a speedboat.
It was learnt that the soldiers, on sighting the speedboat, attempted to intercept it for a routine check.
Instead of stopping in obedience to the soldiers’ directive, the hoodlums were said to have opened fire on the patrol team.
It was learnt that the soldiers engaged the pirates in a gunfight but they escaped.
Rabiu was said to have been hit by the bullets of the criminals while the driver of the patrol boat, a civilian, and others sustained injuries.
Rabiu was said to have died at the Brass Terminal operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company where the injured casualties were rushed after the encounter.
A security source, who did not want his name mentioned, said medical personnel battled in vain to save Rabiu’s life.
Narrating the incident, the source said, “They didn’t know that the occupants of the speedboat were pirates. They waved at them but they refused to stop. The next thing was that the pirates engaged the soldiers.”
Reacting to the incident, the JTF said the patrol team successfully repelled the sea pirates’ attack along the waterways.
The Media Coordinator, JTF, Lt. Col. Mustapha Anka, said, “Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, patrolling along Ogbia-Brass route on a tip off of a sea robbery, were attacked at Orukiri – fishing Camp in the early hours of today, October 14, 2014.
“The incident resulted in the exchange of fire between JTF troops and sea robbers. A soldier was wounded during the incident while the rest returned to base safely.”
Meanwhile, the JTF has arrested no fewer than nine suspected oil thieves and destroyed 31 illegal refineries in its operations in the region last week.
The JTF also said it intercepted an illegal tugboat, christened ‘MV Tobester’, loaded with suspected illegally refined Automated Gas Oil along Tonmogbene area in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
Anka said the captain of the tugboat, Mr. Akinfemiwa Bojo, and the engineer, Mr. Solomon Ogunlona, on board the vessel were also arrested.
Anka said the duo had been handed over to Sector 2 of the JTF for preliminary investigation before being handed over to the relevant prosecuting agency.
He said while the vessel was anchored at the Nigeria Port Authority, the troops also discovered a hose illegally connected to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation with two boats filled with suspected stolen crude oil.
He said the items were destroyed immediately in line with the mandate of the task force.
Anka said, “Thirteen illegal oil distillation camps were also destroyed around Gbarum Market in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State where oil thieves operate with plastic tanks filled with suspected illegally acquired crude oil.
“The sites and the equipment were destroyed along with the trucks and products. Other items discovered were: 32 plastic tankers with capacity of 200 litres each filled with substance suspected to be stolen crude oil siphoned from an oil well head. “
The spokesman said in the Sector 2 area, JTF troops patrolling along Igbemotoru area scuttled 18 illegal crude oil refineries where oil thieves operated with Cotonou boats filled with stolen diesel and 13 illegal storing facilities.
He said the camps and the products were destroyed, while seven suspects were also arrested along Nonwa Tai Road operating a truck.
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