The Joint Task Force of the Niger Delta on Sunday attributed the increasing cases of kidnapping in Port Harcourt to crackdown by its troops on illegal oil bunkering and sea piracy.
The Spokesman of the JTF, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa told our correspondent in an exclusive interview that the task force had received report that members of the some of the armed groups were suffering in their camps.
He added that the JTF also got the news that some of the bandits had died in their secret camps within and outside the states as a result of hardship.
He said some bandits were forced to sneak into Port Harcourt with a view to take hostages as a means of raising money to feed their members.
Musa said �We have received report that members of armed gangs were hard-pressed and suffering in their camps.
�Infact, some of them were said to have died as a result of the hardship and poor feeding.
�Our recent crackdown on illegal oil bunkering has cut off their source of economic mainstay. We have also cut off their source of supplies and it has become increasingly difficult for them to feed�
He added that the JTF would sustain its operation to keep militant group out of Rivers State and to restore peace and order.
As part of measures to check the increasing cases of kidnapping, he said that JTF had increased its day and night patrol in the some of the hot spots in the state.
�They should report to us any suspicious movement and the activities of the criminals. The dedicated lines are 084230287; 07028120784 and 07028120789,� he added.