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5 soldiers killed in militant attack in Nigeria's oil-rich south

ASSOCIATED PRESS

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, Oct. 2 — Dozens of militants sank two military patrol boats in Nigeria's oil-rich, southern delta Monday in an attack that killed five soldiers and left nine others missing, an army spokesman said.

Maj. Sagir Musa said 15 soldiers were on a routine boat patrol in a delta outlet when 70 militants attacked, sinking two military boats. One of the soldiers managed to escape and raise the alarm, he said, giving the casualty toll.
A senior employee of Royal Dutch Shell PLC said a convoy belonging to the company was attacked Monday in the area Musa described. Oil company convoys usually travel with a military escort in the dangerous delta region.
The employee spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press. He did not provide further details.
It was not immediately clear if the two reports referred to the same incident, or if anyone was taken captive.
Militant attacks and kidnappings have cut oil production in Africa's largest crude producer by more than a quarter so far this year.