The operatives were reportedly deployed in an outpost of the Nigeria Gas
Company (NGC) to protect the facilities of the firm when they saw two
200 horsepower boats conveying the militants.
According to The Nation, the Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre
(JMCC) of ODS, Lt. Col. Olaolu Dauda, confirmed the encounter in a
statement in Yenagoa but said the troops repelled the militants.
“They came in 200 horsepower speed capacity boats but were subsequently
engaged and repelled. Effort is ongoing to apprehend the criminals”, he
said.
He, however, added: “Troops at Batan reported a loud sound suspected to
be an explosion. Further findings revealed that a barge carrying
equipment used for the repairs of the Trans Forcados Pipeline at the
repair site in Eweregbene community was blown by suspected Niger Delta
Avengers militants who retreated after troops repelled the attack.
“However, two unexploded dynamites found at the scene on a branch and swamp buggy were successfully detonated by our troops”.
Olaolu also disclosed that troops of Sector 2, Bayelsa State, in
conjunction with Special Forces conducted patrols at Sand-sand Fishing
Camp and uncovered attempts by militants to reactivate an
earlier-destroyed camp.
“The troops engaged the suspected militants and killed one of them
popularly called ‘Edoboy’. He was one of the notorious kinpins on the
wanted list of security agencies who had been terrorizing innocent
members of the communities in the area”, he said.
He said the troops also engaged another group of suspected sea robbers at creeks close to Lobia community in Bayelsa.
He said: “One suspect popularly known as “Stainless Gobo” was killed
while others escaped with various degrees of injuries towards Lobia
Community.
“The killed suspected sea robber is believed to be affiliated to a
wanted militant called “VIP”. One AK 47, two magazines, 29 rounds of
7.62milimeter special, 10 empty cases, seven charms, two head warmers
and a cutlass were recovered from the scene”.
The spokesman said a passenger boat was rescued from sea robbers at
Idoro River in Ozobo Community, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta
State.
He said while trying to escape, the sea robbers’ vessel collided with
the passenger boat and capsized adding that four of the suspects were
nabbed.
He said troops were making efforts to recover four locally-made
double-barrel guns belonging to the suspects from the river while the
arrested suspects were being quizzed.
Olaolu further said that a wooden boat conveying 53 drums of
illegally-refined petroleum product were intercepted at Asugbo Tibigbene
and Beneth River Warri South Local Government.
The spokesman confirmed that one Vincent Moses and Emuotu Godbless
Oghenechonuohwo were arrested with a white coloured Toyota Hiace bus
conveying ten plastic drums with 220 litre capacity each and 19
jerrycans of suspected Automated Gas Oil (AGO).
They were arrested along Okwagbe – Ughelli road and handed over to the
Delta State Command of the Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Olaolu also confirmed that one Usman Jafar, 21-year-old indigene of
Adamawa State was arrested for parading himself as a serving soldier.
Jafar, who was alleged to have robbed one Atima Aghogho along Ajanuga
road had in possession a fake Nigerian Army Identity Card, one First
Bank of Nigeria ATM Card and an iphone belonging to one of his victims.
The spokesman further said that following a tip off, troops in
conjunction with members of Petroleum Task Force conducted a raid at
Ifieporo community in Warri South Local Government and discovered an
area used as dump site and piling up place of products before being
loaded into trucks.
He said: “Other items discovered are several rubber drums and Jerricans
containing substance suspected to be illegal oil bunkering mats. Troops
also recovered a black coloured Audi vehicles loaded with several water
proof bags containing substance suspected to be products of illegal
bunkering. “Following another tip off troops discovered 4 identified
hideouts used for storing substance suspected to be illegally refined
Automated Gas Oil around Ohoro junction, Ughelli North Local Government
Area of Delta State.
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