…recover prison list of arrested/imprisoned militants, others

By Ike Uchechukwu, CALABAR

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) VICTORY has destroyed a hideout used by suspected militants terrorising coastal communities in Ine Ikoridung, a settlement in Cross River State, following an intelligence-led raid on the criminal enclave.

No arrests were made during the operation, but troops recovered several incriminating items, according to the Base Information Officer, Lieutenant-Commander Sulaiman Bala, in a statement issued in Calabar on Monday.

Bala said the raid formed part of sustained offensive operations against militant elements operating within the Dayspring axis, following intelligence reports that the group had relocated to the area.

“Accordingly, NNS VICTORY patrol gunboats stormed the settlement, cordoned off the area and conducted thorough searches of identified huts where intelligence indicated the militants were residing,” he said.

He said the suspects fled on sighting the approaching gunboats, but troops recovered five empty cartridges, one military camouflage vest, one police camouflage vest, one military pullover and one military jungle hut.

“Troops also recovered one notebook containing records of suspected militant fighters previously arrested and the correctional facilities where they are currently serving prison terms,” Bala added.

He said the huts were subsequently razed to deny the militants further use of the settlement as a hideout.

“Consequently, the identified huts were destroyed to deny the criminals future safe havens within the settlement,” he said.

Bala explained that the militants’ relocation to the remote coastal settlement was a direct consequence of sustained pressure from the Navy, which he said had restricted their freedom of action and forced them out of previously established hideouts.

He assured that the Navy would not relent in its offensive against criminal elements in the state’s maritime environment.

“The Nigerian Navy Ship VICTORY will continue to sustain maximum pressure on the miscreants until total security is restored to the maritime environment,” he said.