by Isi Esene

A Naval officer was on Thursday killed in a shootout between a naval patrol team and a group of suspected kidnappers. A naval officer was also injured in the shootout.

The kidnappers were reported to have abducted a man along Udu Road, Warri, and were on the way to their hideout in the creeks when they were engaged in a gun battle with the Nigerian Navy patrol crew.

Reports say the Navy shut down the Warri waterways for several hours after the incident disrupting movement of people and goods.

The injured officer was said to have been rushed to Central Hospital, Warri, to receive proper medical attention.

A source said, “After the shootout, I saw Navy men towing a Navy boat which was damaged by the kidnappers. The waterways are completely blocked by Navy officers.

“There is no movement on the waterways. As I speak with you, I am on the waterways, wanting to leave for Burutu, but there is no movement.”

The commanding officer, Nigerian Navy, Warri, Commodore Stephen Bum Kor, denied knowledge of this incident promising to gather information and revert back to pressmen.

The Police Public Relations officer of the Delta State police command, Charles Muka, confirmed the abduction of a man who was reportedly trailed to a location, abducted, and taken to Udu waterside where they boarded a boat and left to an unknown destination in the creeks.

Muka, however, said he was not aware of any encounter between the kidnappers and the Navy officers.