THE Joint Task Force (JTF) on the Niger-Delta, yesterday, arrested five Americans and two Nigerians, including a Nigerian-American civil worker, Mr. Joel Bisina on their way to the country home of Mr. Bisina in a creek community in Delta State. It was learnt that the Americans were in the country to do a documentary that has to do with the Niger-Delta, but the JTF suspected the black men in the boat might have kidnapped the white men and were taking them to the creek.
Mr. Bisina who spoke to Sunday Vanguard on phone at about 2.50 pm said they were just being brought to the JTF headquarters, Effurun, Delta State by the soldiers who took them hostage while he was going to his country home with his American friends. Bisina who runs a non governmental organization (NGO) in Warri had invited this reporter, some few days ago, to join him to welcome the Americans and participate in the documentary but due to the exigency of duty, he was not immediately available for the creek trip.
He said that he drove to Sapele from where he chartered a speedboat to take his visitors to his village at Oghara, but they were intercepted by soldiers who arrested them. Commander of the JTF, Brigadier-General Nanven Rimptip confirmed to Sunday Vanguard when contacted, yesterday, that the men were in his custody. He said that when he was told by his men that some white men and some black men were found heading to the creek, he instructed that they should be arrested and brought to the headquarters of the Task Force for questioning.
Rimptip said the JTF was only being careful, as it would not want a situation where militants would operate in Delta or Bayelsa State under any guise. He said that if the men were on a legal mission, as this reporter hinted him, they should have obtained permission from the JTF for protection, as the Task Force would not want to hear that anything happened to them while on tour of the creek.
Mr. Bisina who was angry when he spoke to Sunday Vanguard had stated that he was, indeed, asked by the soldiers who intercepted him why he did not obtain a permit, but, he told them he was not aware that he had to obtain a clearance before going with his friends to his country home.
He said the presence of the team in Nigeria was public knowledge and that they scheduled to have an audience with the Chief of Defence Staff, adding, �I explained myself and my mission to them but they remained adamant, are they saying that I am not free in my country�.
Brigadier General Rimptip, however, assured that the Americans and their Nigerian hosts would be released as soon as they clarify some doubts concerning their mission. As at 3.30 pm when Sunday Vanguard called Mr. Bisina to find out the situation, his cell phone was no longer through but it was gathered that they were being interrogated by some soldiers at that time, after which they would be taken before the commander.
The Joint Task Force in Rivers State has reacted to an alleged plot by dreaded cult leader Ateke Tom in evil alliance with his counter part in Bayelsa to attack the multi billion naira Bonga field, offshore and Port Harcourt. Lieutenant Col Sagir Musa who spoke to the media yesterday said they were on top of the security situation in the region. He said they had already put their men on red alert to nip any evil plot in the bud.�Whenever we have intelligence regarding the clandestine activities of any of the militant groups, as a military tradition, we put our men on red alert so that they will not be caught unawares.�
�We are aware of whatever the militants are doing and in view of the present situation; we have made enough plans to counter any planned attack by them. But, inspite of this and even when we are aware of what they are doing, we are cautious of the way we carry out operations because they are our brothers. We want to end this crisis with the least number of casualties�.
Top security sources told newsmen that they had unearth plot by Ateke and his fellow cult groups to attack Bonga field and Port Harcourt. The plan attack according to the sources were to have been carried out simultaneously. But because security forces had successfully infiltrated the ranks of dreaded cult groups in the state it leaked out.