Military Vows To Arrest Jonathan’s Home Attackers

The military Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS) has vowed to arrest gunmen behind the attack on former President Goodluck Jonathan’s home yesterday.
The unknown gunmen attacked the military gunboat close to the house of former President Goodluck Jonathan in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
Spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS), Maj. Jonah Unuoccurred, who confirmed the attack to The Tide’s source, said the incident occurred at about 3 am.
He also confirmed that while repelling the attack, one of the soldiers died and another was injured, but was responding to treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
“At about 0300hrs (3am), today (yesterday), unknown gunmen attacked one gunboat deployed close to the house of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The vigilant troops repelled the attack while some of the assailants escaped with gunshot wounds. However, during the attack, one soldier paid the supreme price and another wounded in action.
“The wounded has been evacuated to the hospital and responding to treatment. Preliminary investigation is ongoing to identify the person’s or groups behind the attack.
“The people are advised to go about their lawful businesses as the security of lives and properties is priority to Operation Delta Safe during the Yuletide period and beyond.”
Following the attack, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has demanded a swift, sweeping and thorough probe of the shocking incident.
The demand was contained in a statement yesterday by the spokesman of the ruling party, Lanre Issa-Onilu.
“The APC join other well-meaning Nigerians in condemning the attack in its entirety. We call on security agencies to fish out the perpetrators and their sponsors.
“We extend condolences to the family of the soldier who reportedly died in the attack. The Party also wishes the other injured soldier a full and speedy recovery,” it said.
The Tide’s source also gathered that the gunmen, numbering about twenty, were repelled by military men stationed behind the house.
A community source, who spoke in confidence, said the gunmen came through the river on five speedboats and opened fire on the soldiers.
They launched the attack with dynamite being thrown into Jonathan’s residence and it blew off the roof of a small cottage building inside the residence.
According to other sources, two soldiers stationed behind the house confronted the armed men and engaged them in a heavy gun shootout, “the gunmen were approaching the house when they were sighted by the soldiers.
“They opened fire on the soldiers and the soldiers replied. It was a heavy shootout. The Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) positioned in from of the house, made a u-turn blaring siren to join his men behind the house.
“The soldiers, while engaging the gunmen at the back of the house, were not aware some gunmen were coming into the house on land. Those gunmen on foot shot dead a soldier and shot another in the leg.
“They escaped after sighting the APC moving to re-enforce the soldiers. The gunmen abandoned a boat filled with blood. We asked an eyewitness at the jetty and we were told that the gunmen were seen moving some bodies of their colleague into another boat”, they said.
Most of the indigenes of Otuoke community commended the soldiers for their gallantry at repelling such attack.
Media Adviser to Jonathan, Ikechukwu Eze, said although the former President was not in the house as at the time of the attack, he promptly returned home.
“The former President who was not in Otuoke at the time of the attack, however, returned to his village early this morning to assess the situation.
“Dr. Jonathan promptly condemned the attack and reassured his people that there was no cause for alarm.”
He added that the former President has also condoled with the family of the deceased soldier, the military and has urged the concerned security authorities to swing into action and bring the culprits to book.
Jonathan arrived at the scene at about 3.30am in company of the Commander of the 3rd Brigade, Elele and the Bayelsa Commissioner of Police, to inspect the damages.