The Joint Task Force (JTF) yesterday killed two militants around the Cawthorn channel, near Okrika when the hoodlums in five speed boats ran into a patrol of the Task Force and immediately opened fire on them.
Briefing newsmen on the activities of the JTF in the past one week, its Spokesman, Lt. Colonel Sagir Musa, said security operatives were on a routine patrol when they sighted the hoodlums who panicked and opened fire on them.
He said the patrol which was mounted by their Naval component returned fire in what he described as a fierce gun battle in self defence and with their superior fire power, overwhelmed the militants whose three boats were immediately sunk.
Musa said the remaining two made a u-turn and fled the scene leaving their partners in crime to their fate.
On how his men have been responding to the increasing spate of kidnappings, he said they were on top of the situation, pointing out that the JTF on patrol foiled the kidnap of one Obinna Obikwu in Port Harcourt.
Musa said that the men on patrol were informed of the nefarious activities of the hoodlums who had taken the man to a hide out. “We rushed to the area and cordoned it off before releasing Obikwu unharmed.â€
Two of the suspected kidnappers were arrested in the hide out at Oyigbo where two AK47 rifles, Rocket Propelled Grenade and seven loaded Ak47 magazines, a Mercedes Benz 190 car registered EG 653 PHC and a Mitsubishi Jeep marked NAH 601 DEG were recovered.
He assured residents of Rivers State that the JTF personnel were capable of responding to any of the ploys of the hoodlums in their bid to make the state safe for law abiding citizens