By Dayo Johnson

LIKE the blood of Abel in the holy  books cried for vengeance after he was brutally murdered by his siblings Cain, likewise the blood of the soldiers and policemen murdered in cold blood by the notorious militant leader “General” Ossy Ibori cried for vengeance and did not stop until it ensured his demise last weekend. He was gunned down in his hideout inside the creek in Ajakpa, a riverine community in Ese-Odo council area of Ondo state.

The late Ibori, according to a source, enjoys killing security personnels to boost  his ego. Reports had it that he was a specialist in vandalizing pipelines, involved in high profile kidnapping and bank robberies. He had brought sorrow and anguish to many families in Edo, Delta, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos states following his heinous activities in the recent time which has led to the death of many persons.

Nigerian army training for operation crocodile smile in Delta

Last month he and his gang reportedly killed an army captain and four policemen at Ikorodu, Lagos State. They also allegedly abducted students and staff members of a secondary school  in Lagos. However, the killing of Ibori by the Joint Task Force JTF codenamed Operation Delta Safe left  some casualties on the part of the military personnel as one soldier was also killed while three others sustained serious injuries as a result of a gun duel that lasted almost an hour at his hideout in the creek last Sunday.

The late Ibori according to reliable source commits his crime in these five states unhindered only to run and take cover in the remote creek in Ajakpa community  in Ondo State. Even while he hibernate in the creek, he coordinates heinous activities at Ese-Odo communities around  Ajapa, Safarogbo and Bolowo areas of the state. But like the saying that you can only run but cannot hide, the deceased was smoked out from his “cave” following a high level networking by the JTF operation.

Recall that Ibori had been on the wanted list of the nation’s security operative for over a years as he was known to have coordinated most of the bank robberies and high profile kidnapping especially that of the three school girls at Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary school, Lagos, some landlords in Lagos, the kidnapping of the traditional ruler of Ibaland, Oniba, Oba Goriolla Oseni amonsgt others within Lagos and Ogun states. A source told vanguard that the top security personnel in the country recently expressed worries over a recent boast by the notorious gangster that  he has over 21 “Generals” in his beck and call and that they coordinate over 8000 men across his “catchment” areas.

Prior to his demise, the late Ibori, Vanguard learnt had become a troubled thumb to the security agencies in these five states where he operates (Ondo, Delta, Edo, Ogun and Lagos). He was said to have been trailed to the creek in Ondo State through the effort of  a whistle blower. The cooperation of some locals boys in the community reportedly helped in rooting out the notorious militant and his cohorts from the hideout  and the success of the operation.

By the time the JTF surrounded his hideout, the deceased and his boys had no choice than to fight back but they were at a disadvantaged position as they were caught unawares. Meanwhile, resident of Ajakpa have deserted the community for fear of indiscriminate arrest by soldiers that have flooded the community searching for the fleeing militants. Also, the resident according to findings may have relocated for fear that the fleeing militants may return to descend on them for the death of the leader Ossy Ibori.

The Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre of the Operation Delta Safe, Major Abubakar Abdullahi, said they stormed the community “in line with our mandate to rid Niger Delta of all criminal acts of militancy and kidnappings. Abdullahi in a statement added that “ in a special operation the JTF repelled an attack on troops location around Ajakpa community in the creeks of Southern Ondo State last night. The attack was led by one notorious gang leader, Ossy Ibori with a hideout at Ajakpa, Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

“The leader was gunned down during the gun duel, along with some of his his gang members. His body was identified by some of the locals in the area. While search for other criminals who jumped into the water with gunshot wounds is ongoing, troops had recovered one AK-47 Rifle and 4 Magazines. “It could be recalled that, criminal gangs led by late Ossy Ibori have been terrorising parts of Lagos,Ogun and Ondo states prior to this operation.

“They committed many atrocities threatening the peace and security of the general areas.  Last month, the gang kill an army captain and two Policemen at Ikorodu. Also late last year, they abducted students and staffs of a secondary school. The criminals in addition carried out several attacks at Ese-Odo communities. The need to flush them out from their hideout became necessary to ensure peace and security in Ondo state. Sadly in the process, one gallant soldier paid the supreme price while three others sustained gun shot wounds.”

They have since been moved to military hospital for proper medical attention. “While the operation is ongoing, let me appeal to law abiding residents of the affected communities to remain calm, vigilant and support our troops with valuable information on whereabouts of other criminals.” Also reacting, the state police command said that the naval authorities have deployed gun boat and other security apparatus to the trouble areas.

The command image Maker Femi Joseph  told vanguard that normalcy had returned to the riverine communities. Joseph appealed to residents to go about their duties as security agencies are determined to rid the southern senatorial district of the state of  criminals.