…3 suspected militants arrested

YENAGOA—THE Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, codenamed Operation Delta Safe, yesterday, said its operatives at FOB FORMOSO repelled an attempt by suspected oil thieves to vandalise and steal the control unit from a Well Head in Nembe creek, Bayelsa East senatorial district.

This came as troops raided Bukuma Jetty in Rivers State, and arrested three suspected militants and one Cotonou boat laden with illegally refined Automated Gas Oil.

Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, ODS, Lt. Col Olaolu Daudu, in a statement issued in Yenagoa, identified the oil facility as Well Head 72, operated by AITEO Company.

According to him, the suspects on sighting the troops abandoned their tools and fled the scene. He said: “The Nigerian Navy Ship JUBILEE also foiled an attempt by gunmen led by the suspected leader of a cult group popularly referred to as “Icelander” at Entebe community in Akwa Ibom State to kidnap people of value but on sighting the naval gunboats, the kidnappers fled the scene. The group had earlier embraced Amnesty but some intractable members still indulge in acts of criminality. Troops are on their trail.

“It was also reported that sea robbers operating from Eastern Obolo attacked and kidnapped unspecified number of persons on a ship at sea. Troops of NNS JUBILEE are on the trail of the kidnappers for possible rescue.  Troops of Sector 3, while on patrol, discovered an illegal oil refining camp at Idama Creek in Rivers State. The site was destroyed. Also, based on tip off, troops raided suspected militants camp at Harrison Kiri, Liberty, Evil forest, Virgin forest, Opuru fishing port, Wangwa fishing port and Zion City. At Harrison camp, suspected militants fled on sighting troops. They are being trailed.

“Similarly, troops raided Bukuma Jetty and arrested 3 suspected militants and one Cotonou boat laden with illegally refined Automated Gas Oil. Troops also discovered an illegal refinery site at Borokiri general area where bunkerers engage in massive loading of illegally refined AGO. One container truck with registration number AWK 119 ZL loaded with 50 drums concealed behind bags of flour was impounded.”