Port Hacourt And Okon Bassey in Uyo — The fight between militants and soldiers in the Niger Delta took a turn for the worst last night as nine soldiers were killed by the militants.

The latest killing took place at Ekulama, where soldiers that escorted an oil major, AGIP, delivery van to Port Harcourt ran into the militants while returning to Brass. The militants were said to belong to the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) said to be heading to Port Harcourt to protect Ijaw communities from possible repraisal attacks by the military over Monday killing of five soldiers.

The MEND said last night that it would send 500 fighters to Port Harcourt to protect Ijaw communities.

Earlier in the day, 18 militants had invaded the residence of expatriate oil workers attached to the Mobil Producing Nigeria, Eket in Akwa Ibom state killing two security guards on duty and kidnapped seven expatriates.

This is coming just as the Nigerian Army yesterday said it was not going to carry out any reprisal attack on suspected militants over Monday attack on their soldiers at Cawtrhorne creek where about five of them died.

THISDAY gathered that the militants in the fresh attack came from the Eket - Etinan Creeks at about 8.15pm on Tuesday and attacked the expatriates' residence situated at the Esa Akpan Estate in Eket.

Sources said the oil expatriates kidnapped were at the Nancy Bar located within the estate. The Esa Akpan Estate is exclusively used as residence for oil expatriates attached to Mobil.

According to information, those kidnapped were Scottish nationals namely Grecham Bucham, Paul Smith, Sandy Cruden. While George Maclean worked with Oceaneerring company, others were with Sparrow Offshore Aberdeen/ Thompson and Grace Investments Company.

Others are a Romanian whose names was simply given as Emile, an Indonesian, Eddy Purwoao and a Malaysian, Louis Ghien both attached to Bristol helicopter.

The names of the two private security guards who lost their lives were given as Harrison E. Harrison and Etim James Nduok while a generator operator in the estate during the invasion sustained injuries and was rushed to an undisclosed clinic.

The Police Public Relations Office in the State, ASP Suur Chafa confirmed the report saying all police formations in the state have been alerted of the development.

"Sequel to this development we have alerted all our formations, and we have intensified search on the coastal area. We have alerted the Divisional Police Officers and other Police Commands within the Niger Delta region", he said.

According to him, the security operatives were not taken unaware indicating that the militants escaped through the Eket-Etinan swamp before police reinforcement could arrive.

He stated that those involved in the kidnapping of the expatriate oil workers were not from Akwa Ibom state. "We have to do something on the coastal area", he stressed.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army yesterday said it was not going to carry out any reprisal attack on suspected militants over the Monday attack on their soldiers at Cawtrhorne creek where about five died, saying that the rumour of such attacks were false and unfounded.

Speaking to newsmen yesterday, 2 Amphibious Battallion Public Relations Officer, Major Musa Segir said the army was too civilised to indulge in such retaliatory attack, more so, when the people were assisting them in the search and rescue operations.

He said he would dully inform the public of the outcome of investigations on the matter as well as results of the search and rescue operations when they conclude the exercise.

He however confirmed that two boats used by the militants which sank in the attack have been recovered.

"People should not panic. Information at my disposal is that people are thinking the army would make reprisal attack at neighboring communities in the area. Let me assure responsible law abiding citizens of the state and the local government that the army is not planning any reprisal attack. We are not thinking the militants had anything to do with the local governments", he assured.

However, there were indications yesterday that some of the soldiers thought to have died in the attack by militants Monday are alive as some of them have allegedly resurfaced in the barracks in Port Harcourt.

Sources said apart from the four confirmed to have been rescued and receiving treatment in the hospital, about three others taken for dead have suddenly resurfaced.

Unofficial infomation from Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (SPDC) however said the convoy attacked by the militants was conveying supplies for Tidex Nigeria Limited, a Port Harcourt based oil servicing company when the incident took place.

The company said about seven soldiers were still missing, adding that contrary to the information that the soldiers were on guard duty at a location when they were attacked, they were guarding fuel supplies to a swampy location in the creeks when the militants struck.

On those who lost their lives, the Shell source confirmed that of "four bodies; three soldiers and one boatman. Twenty-five contractor company personnel, three boatmen and seven soldiers probably abducted, five soldiers wounded, one very critically".

In an apparent move to restore the confidence of residents of the state on their safety, there were increased patrols by joint teams comprising Mobile Police, regular police and military men around the city.

Also, check points have been increased where soldiers and police thoroughly frisk passengers that ply major routes in the state.