By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa -The Joint Task force, JTF, in the Niger Delta, code-named Operation Restore Hope,  yesterday, confirmed that its troops in the region, weekend, shot dead one person during an exchange of fire at Ekeremor in Bayelsa State.

JTF in a statement  by the Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, Lt. Col Timothy Antigha, said its men were deployed  to enforce the no movement order and also forestall any breach of security that could affect the conduct of free and fair elections in the state when they came under attack.

According to him, in the ensuing exchange of fire, the troops shot dead one suspect while others abandoned their boats and escaped.

The statement said, “In the early hours of today (Saturday), the Joint Task Force, Operation Restore Hope, deployed to designated areas to enforce the no movement order and also forestall any breach of security that could affect the conduct of free and fair elections in Bayelsa State.

“At about 0845 hrs, a JTF gunboat which was deployed to Ekeremor waterside came under fire from unknown people in two speed boats.

“In the ensuing exchange of fire, JTF troops shot dead one suspect, while the others abandoned theirs boats and escaped.

“The JTF believes that the suspects might have been hired by certain people to subvert the electoral process somewhere and that the suspects were enroute their destination when they met the JTF patrol.”

“Items recovered from the suspects” according to the JTF include “one speed boat, one 75 Horse Power Yamaha out board engine, one walkie talkie handset,two magazines, three locally made bottle dynamites.”