The Joint Task Force (JTF) in charge of security in the Niger Delta yesterday dismissed claims by militants belonging to the Move-ment for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) that soldiers launched attack on their positions thereby killing seven of the militants.
MEND in a statement also reiterated its ultimatum that all oil companies in the region and their expatriates should leave the region within the next 24 hours or they would face reprisal attacks.
Spokesperson of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, however said contrary to the claims of MEND that the military launched an offensive against its men, soldiers on routine patrol around Elem Tombia axis came under attack by some militants and they exchanged fire but that the incident was not a serious one and that no casualties were recorded.
MEND had in an initial statement said that it lost three of its �Commandos� in the aerial bombardment and that it shot at helicopters which raided its positions with RPG.
A statement by Gbomo Jomo said the raid of its positions by the JTF started at 0900hrs and that the Movement holds President Umaru Musa Yar�Adua and Rivers State government responsible for the casualties.
�At about 0900 Hrs today, September 13, 2008, the armed forces of Nigeria began a full scale aerial and marine offensive on the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) positions and neighbouring Ijaw communities in Rivers state with helicopter gunships, jet fighters and over 20 gun boats and landing crafts filled with heavily armed soldiers mainly from the northern axis of Nigeria.
�We hold the governor of Rivers state and the president of Nigeria accountable for the genocide on the defenseless civilians who are bearing the brunt from indiscriminate air force bombs.
“All MEND positions in the Niger delta will respond to this unprovoked attack coming at a time the government is canvassing the so-called Niger Delta Ministry to hoodwink the people.
�Rotimi Amaechi, the governor of Rivers State must realise that this action also puts his family and community at the risk of reprisals with dire consequences.
�Oil companies are warned to move out their workers within the next 24 hours because a hurricane is about to sweep through oil installations in the entire Niger Delta region. An update on the fighting will be continuously relayed�, Jomo stated.
The JTF while explaining the exchange that occured at the weekend between its men and MEND stated that its increased patrol on the waterways were aimed at stopping the criminal elements which have been attacking, killing and dispossessing innocent people of their belongings.
�In order to checkmate recurrent sea piracy and related militants� criminal acts on our waterways, the JTF Operation Flush III maintains regular marine patrol of identified notorious waterways. It was on such patrol that today (yesterday) at about 1035hrs at Elom Tombia that unknown group of militants opened fire on our patrol team which resulted in exchange of fire.
�The aircraft hovering around was just routine surveillance and reconnaissance. It was a minor encounter, no cause for alarm, no casualty recorded on our side and the situation is under control�, Sagir said.
At about 4.30pm, Jomo sent another mail saying the casualty figure has risen to seven on their side but could not state the number of soldiers killed by MEND snipers.
�1500 Hrs: Seven fighters have so far been lost in the attack by the army on our position in Rivers state with several others injured. Three army helicopter gunships returned and began firing missiles indiscriminately into the mangrove vegetation’s because of the excellent camouflage of our men and boats.
�This may be the beginning of a full scale oil war�, he said in the update.
MEND also claimed that the 27 oil workers they allegedly rescued from MT Blue Ocean have been injured in exchange of fire.
The River State government in its reaction to the development denied that it had a hand in the face off if any and vowed that it would not be cowed by threats from any group including MEND.
�The Rivers State Government will not be cowed by threats from any group, including MEND, Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi remains focused on his mission to develop Rivers State, people should not be scared as the security agencies have the capacity to respond to any attack from any quarter�, the Acting Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Blessing Wikina said in a statement.
Sep142008