Two soldiers attached to an ongoing Ekaago-Ogboloma-Adada Road project in Abua/Odual Local Council of  Rivers State  have been killed by suspected gunmen, while the expatriate handling the project and some workers  were abducted.

The Guardian gathered that the Army personnel were shot by hoodlums while trying to abduct the workers.

It was learnt that the hoodlums also fled the scene with the slain soldiers’ rifles and took hostage a farmer, who was returning from the farm.

A source, who confirmed the incident, yesterday, said the hoodlums shot sporadically into the air to scare the residents before escaping through Esalla, a river in Akani community in Odual.

A community leader, who pleaded anonymity, said the military had invaded the area and arrested some persons in Emelego and Ogboloma communities.

He said the development had made the residents of Emelego, Ogboloma and Okolomade to live in palpable fear over reprisal attacks by the military.

He said: “Some hoodlums came to the Ogboloma Road construction site on Tuesday with the intention of kidnapping the white man handling the road. They laid ambush and waited for them to resume duty. So, on sighting the Army they shot and killed two Army personnel.

“They also kidnapped the foreman, other four workers and one farmer from Ogboloma community, who was returning from the farm. The hoodlums also took away the rifles of the soldiers and escaped through Esala River after shooting into the air.

“The Army arrested suspects in Emelego and Ogboloma communities. We are all living in fear. We all have been sleeping in the bush. There is panic everywhere. We don’t know the next move the Army will make.”

Contacted, the  Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Division Nigerian Army, Lt. Col Iweha Ikedishi  was yet to respond to the  development, as he promised to get back when a call was put to him.