WARRI—MEN of the Joint Task Force, JTF, on the Niger Delta, codenamed, Operation Restore Hope, Monday night, attacked and wiped out a militant camp at Obotobo I in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

Sector Commander I of the JTF in Warri, Delta State, Colonel Jamil Sarhim, who confirmed the raid, told Vanguard that the militant camp was first destroyed, some months ago, but, it was observed lately that some new structures were springing up in the place.

He said that in line with the directive from the Ministry of Defence that all militant camps should be destroyed, the task force, having observed activities in the camp, knocked down the new structures.

Spokesman of the task force, Lt. Col. T. O. Antigha, told Vanguard, “You will recall that in the last few weeks, criminal gangs masquerading as militants, have been engaging in all manner of atrocities, like kidnapping, sea robbery and illegal boarding of oil production platforms.

The JTF is currently in an operation to rid the Niger Delta region of these criminal elements in order for the region to experience the needed peace and security, which are imperatives for sustainable development.”

“All law-abiding indigenes of the communities hosting these criminals are advised to remain calm and promptly report suspicious characters to relevant security agencies,” he said.

An ex-militant leader who spoke to Vanguard said the camp that was destroyed belonged to another ex-militant leader, identified as ‘General’ Bonigawei. He said Bonigawei was among the ex-militant leaders that accepted amnesty and the camp had since been disbanded.

According to him, “Bonigawei was in Warri when the JTF raided and demolished the place. He is no longer into militancy but fishermen are the ones using the place. They are the ones that built structures in form of shelter, not that militancy activities are going there again.”

He stated: “The news of the demolition of the structures came as a shock to Bonigawei and he left Warri this morning (yesterday) for the community to find out what happened. This is not good; he is the person that is helping to keep peace in the area.”