Four soldiers and two civilians have reportedly been killed by gunmen suspected to be sea pirates along the waterways of Lutegbene, Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa, South-South Nigeria., South-South Nigeria.

The gunmen attacked an oil barge along the waterways being escorted by the soldiers and two civilians.

Others in the ill-fated vessel were said to have escaped with gunshot wounds by diving into the water and swimming to safety.

The incident was said to have occurred on Sunday night. It reportedly unsettled the community as troops were said to have mobilised to the area demanding residents to produce the perpetrators, the Nation reports.

Sources, who confirmed the development, said angry soldiers had started burning some houses in the area following failures by the residents to identify the suspects.

A source from the council, who craved anonymity, said the soldiers were escorting the barge from Port Harcourt in Rivers State to Warri in Delta State when it came under attack.

“The soldiers were escorting a barge when gunmen appeared on speedboat and opened fire on them. They killed four soldiers and two civilians. Others were injured.

“As I am talking to you, soldiers are burning down some houses in the area because they asked the residents to produce the killers,” the source said.