Troops have been massively deployed in the creeks of the Niger Delta to
hunt down militants disturbing the peace of the region and bombing oil
installations despite ongoing dialogue.
It was gathered that the deployment was by the Joint Task Force (JTF),
Operation Delta Safe (ODS), following concerns that militants were still
attacking oil pipelines despite peace talks between stakeholders of the
region and the federal government.
The troops, it was learnt, were asked to identify and dismantle all the
active militant camps used as operational bases by the hoodlums.
They were also directed to patrol the creeks, monitor vessels on the
waterways and conduct stop-and-search operations on suspicious
speedboats.
At one of the creeks identified as Sand-Sand Fishing Camp in Nembe, it
was gathered that the troops came in contact with unrepentant members of
a militant group making efforts to activate a dismantled militant camp.
A source from the ODS, who spoke in confidence, said the militants were
trying to reactivate the camp to use it as a satellite base to
constantly attack oil facilities located at the Nembe-Brass waterways.
He said the troops, after gathering enough intelligence, burst the camp
and in the process confronted the militants in a gun battle.
“It was not an easy operation because the militants were armed to the teeth.
“But we overpowered them and killed one of their leaders, popularly
known as Edoboy. We are still pursuing others who fled into the creeks,”
the source stated.
The source further added that most of the fleeing militants were fond of
running into communities to make the operations of the troops
difficult.
“They run into the communities whenever they are being pursued and mix up making it difficult to identify them.
“The communities are always afraid to identify them and most times,
these hoodlums use them to make statements accusing JTF of violating
their human rights.
“We are very professional and will not engage in any action or conduct
that will drag the name of the military in the mud,” the source
explained.
But indigenes of the Sand-Sand claimed the troops invaded their community under the guise of looking for militants.
They accused the military of destroying scores of houses, churches and schools during the incident.
One of the indigenes, Chief Dede Francis, claimed residents deserted the
community, alleging that displaced persons were suffering in bushes and
neighbouring communities.
“We tried talking to them but it was futile. After hours of
intimidation, they told us that some suspected members of the Niger
Delta Avengers were chased into our community.
“They claimed there were exchanges of gun fire with their personnel by the suspected Avengers from the community.
“The invasion and search however left buildings, schools and churches destroyed. Only a school building was left standing.
“We are shocked. The so-called Avengers did not enter our community,” he said.
But the Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC) of the ODS, Lt.
Col. Olaolu Dauda, faulted the claims of Francis describing it as a big
lie.
He said the true position of the operation at the Sand-Sand community had been widely reported by the media.
He added militants and persons making bloody capitals from the
activities of hoodlums were behind claims that troops invaded the
community and destroyed houses and churches.
