JTF Arrests Six Armed Youth In Ogu

Ox-Ploughs distributed to people in Bauchi South Senatorial District by Senator Adamu Gumba as poverty alleviation materials, recently. Photo: NAN

The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta code-named “Operation Pulo Shield” has arrested six youths with seven AK-47 rifles around Ekporo Road on their way to Ogu, in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The suspected gunmen include, Daniel Ibito-Anga, Sunday Elisha, Uche Jenikachi, Ibinabo Lawson, and Okechukwu Okoro.

In addition to the rifles recovered from them, the youth also had in their possession, 164 rounds of 7.62mm special live ammunition and 10 life magazines, among others.

The Tide gathered that the eagle eyes of a crack team of the JTF caught up with the suspected criminals, who were stopped on the basis of their suspicious movement as they headed for Ogu in an off white Land Rover jeep with registration number JJ441BZ.

It was learnt that after an extensive interrogation, the suspects were taken to the JTF base at Bori Camp in Port Harcourt for further questioning.

Sources in the military command headquarters in Port Harcourt indicated that the suspects were yesterday morning, handed over to the Rivers State police command for further investigations and prosecution.

But in an interview, Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent Ahmad Muhammad, said he could not confirm the suspects’ handover to the police by the JTF.

According to Muhammad, “I have not been briefed of such handover, for now”, adding that when the details were received, the command would graciously make such information available to the public.

However, the JTF Spokesperson, Col Onyema Nwachukwu, who confirmed the arrest, insisted that the suspects were picked up for illegal possession of firearms, and dispelled speculations that the weapons were for political vendetta.

According to Nwachukwu, “as at January 3, 2014, six suspects with arms were arrested during a routine patrol at Ogu community in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

“Items recovered were seven AK-47 rifles, 164 rounds of ammunition and six locally-made canon launchers.

“Suspects were handed over to the Nigerian police Friday. They were arrested for illegal possession of firearms and not for any reason of political or social affiliation as being wrongly insinuated.”

Only last week, Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi raised the alarm that arms, ammunition and weapons were being brought into the state by people opposed to his administration ahead of the 2015 general elections.

He alleged that the weapons were meant to be used to intimidate and perpetrate violence against the people of Rivers State to enable the opponents to rig the elections.