By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa—Authorities of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, codenamed Operation Delta Safe, weekend, confirmed the rescue of six persons from the den of pirates in Bayelsa and Rivers states.

Three of the rescued kidnapped victims were identified as indigenous staff of LEX Oil abducted on November 3 at Ikuru town of Andoni Local Government Area, Rivers State.

Three others were passengers seized from a boat along the Kasabubou Forupa waterways, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, Operation Delta Safe, Lt. Col Olaolu Daudu, in a statement in Yenagoa, said: “The troops of Sector 2 deployed at Koluama conducted a raid on pirates’ hideout in Kasabubou Forupa waterways, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

“The troops rescued three persons namely Peter Atijera, Lukman Balogun and Pius John and recovered a speedboat mounted with double engine 115/80 horsepower, two binoculars and one Motorola radio.

Arrest, recovery

“In another development, troops of Sector 2, while on anti-illegal bunkering patrol around Imiringi General Area in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, arrested one Mr. Ebi Youbodha in a Nissan Sunny vehicle with number plates Rivers AJ 252 NCH.

“Items recovered include, 33 jerry cans of substance suspected to be illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene, DPK. The suspect is undergoing preliminary investigations.

“The Air Component of Operation Delta Safe, while on patrol over Isaka town, Kidney Island, Alakiri and Bille in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, sighted two barges loaded with illegally refined products, which were incapacitated.

Intervenes in communal crisis

“Troops of Sector 3 quelled a major fracas between the youths of Ayama village in Aladja community of Warri South West.

“The criseis led to the death of one Mr. Sunday Obuche from Ayama community. The presence of troops forestalled the degeneration of the crisis and further loss of lives.

“The corpse of Mr. Sunday Obuche has been deposited at Ovwian Aladja Police Station, while a meeting with the warring factions is being organised to forestall any reprisal attack.

“Furthermore, troops in conjunction with personnel of Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, conducted a raid on suspected criminal/illegal drug dealer’s hideout at Emu Obodeti community in Ndokwa West Local Government Area, Delta State.

“It led to the arrest of one Mr. Moses Eni and Mrs Boyi Kamanda, with  55 bags of substance suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered.

“The items are in the custody of the NDLEA office in Kwale, Delta State.”