Three persons were said to have died while four others sustained life threatening injuries and were now battling for their lives in undisclosed medical facilities as security operatives raided six communities inn Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Eyewitnesses say a joint security team comprising operatives of the Nigerian Army’s Joint Taskforce (Operation Delta Safe), Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), alongside the Andoni Security Peace and Advisory Council (ANOSPAC) carried out an early morning joint operation in Ibotirem, Ajakajak, Samanga, Dema, Oturia and Otuafu Communities.

Kristina Reports reliably learnt that residents of the affected communities in Andoni LGA have fled their communities following the joint operation which has led to the death of three persons.

Residents of the area said that the security operatives stormed the communities in gunboats as people were preparing for church service in the morning.

According to eyewitnesses, some residents who scampered for safety into mangroves and bushes were chased and shot by members of the local vigilante group, ANOSPAC, leading to the death of the three persons.

The operation has since thrown the area into panic with many leaving the area for fear of the unknown.

The Public Relations Officers of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Major Charles Ekeocha, and the Rivers State Police Command, CSP Nnamdi Omoni were yet to respond to Kristina Reports’ enquiries about the operation as at the time of this report.

Andoni LGA has recently been witnessing some security challenges that have undermine the peaceful atmosphere and economic activities in the area.  

The joint security services in Rivers State have recently gone bullish on clearing up flashpoints of criminality as a way of restoring sanity across communities in the State. These series of operations have targeted hideouts of kidnappers, armed robbery gangs, and ritual killers among others.