Bodies of two of four soldiers drowned during ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ in Bayelsa waterways have been recovered.
The Nigerian Army has confirmed death of four soldiers in a boat mishap within Bayelsa waterways, saying that the remains of the four soldiers were yet to be found, but residents said two bodies had so far been recovered.
Four soldiers drowned during the ongoing military training exercise codenamed ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ after their boat capsized along Brass Water Front, Brass Local Government Area of the state.
Spokesman the Nigerian Army, Colonel Sani Usman, who confirmed the development on Tuesday, in Yenagoa, said four soldiers died in the incident, but added that their remains were yet to be accounted for.
Usman said that search was underway.
“I can confirm to you that there was a mishap yesterday involving death of four soldiers; on whether their bodies have been recovered, search is underway and we are yet to get detail on that,” he said on phone.
A resident of the area, Mr Jonah Kennedy, however, said two out of the four bodies had been recovered as of Tuesday evening by local divers.
Bayelsa chairman of the Maritime Workers Union in Bayelsa, Mr Lloyd Sese, described the incident as unfortunate, urging the federal and state governments to improve emergency response along waterways in the state.
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