N’Delta: JTF Intensifies Raids On Militants, Destroys Seven Camps

The Joint Military Taskforce, Operation “Pulo Shield” says that it has successfully smashed seven hideouts used by kidnappers and pirates in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

According to spokesman of the JTF, Lt.Col, Onyema Nwachukwu, “following the findings from series of thorough surveillance and investigations carried out by our operatives on recent criminal activities of kidnappers and sea robbers in the waterways and creeks along the Delta-Bayelsa axis of the Niger Delta, the Joint Task Force uncovered a number of hideouts that have become places of hibernation for  these criminals.

“These criminals have over time harassed and intimidated not only the inhabitants of these communities but also those engaged in commercial activities in the waterways. The nefarious activities of these criminals have, to a large extent, detrimentally impacted on the socio-economic activities of the people in the affected areas and the generality of users of the waterways. Consequently, we commenced a joint operation to rid the waterways and creeks of all criminal hideouts to restore normalcy.”

Lt. Co. Nwachukwu, in an e-mail sent to journalists in Yenagoa said,”The operation, code named Operation Cleanup The Waterways commenced at about11.00 pm last Tuesday in Azuzuama which has served as a safe haven for notorious kidnappers and sea robbers and have been used as a platform for launching attacks on innocent victims.”

He said identified criminal hideouts used for keeping kidnapped victims in Lobia 1, Lobia 2 and Okugbe in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area were also destroyed during the operation, adding that platforms, comprising three fibre boats and two sophisticated sea-going boats used by the criminals from their hideouts were intercepted while items which include one AK 47 riffle magazine loaded with 34 live rounds of 7.62mm, yards of Army camouflage and sewn uniforms, one cartridge belt, wraps of marijuana, two Thuraya phones, Radio intercom communication set and 109 Honduran Lempira (foreign currency notes) were recovered.

He said measures were underway to deploy troops to Azuzuama to maintain security presence in the area, and appealed to all law abiding citizens to cooperate with the JTF in ensuring that “our water ways are sanitised and safe to foster the socio- economic wellbeing of the good people of the Niger Delta.”

However, reports from Azuzuama indicate that many houses have burnt down by security forces who are said to be searching for those who killed 12 policemen two weeks ago.

According to the reports, most of the houses belonging to those suspected to have taken part in the killings of the policemen were also destroyed.

General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major-General Adebayo Olaniyi, fielding questions from pressmen during the closing ceremony of the Division’s Annual Shooting Range Exercise at Igwuruta, near Port Harcourt. With him is the 2 Brigade Commander,Bori Camp, Brigadier-General Osasogie Uzamere. Photo: Nwiueh Donatus Ken.