THE Joint Task Force in Rivers State has said that the myth of the forests of Ozuoba and Ogbogoro has been broken, stating that the cultists, gunmen and brigands have been overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the JTF. The security outfits have equally made large-scale arrests and seizure of weapons.
But it said the security men were conscious of the presence of the cultists in local government areas and have mapped out plan to comb the entire council areas, including creeks and villages, �without leaving anything or place to chances�.
Commander 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, who doubles as the force commander Brig. Gen. Sarkin-Yaki Bello told journalists, last week, that the force was equally aware of the isolated robberies and recent kidnap and release of a 2 �-year old child. He assured that the force was dealing with the situation.
Bello who gave two phone numbers of 07028129856 and 08057711432 as link to the force�s patrol teams and headquarters, appealed to the public to aid the operations of the security men by intimating them of the presence or hideouts of the cultists.
�In view of the nature and dimension the crisis in Rivers State is taking, it has become necessary to reiterate that security is everybody�s business and should therefore not be left to the security agencies alone.
Consequently, members of the public are hereby requested to feel free to report any incidence or information to the JTF Operation Flush Out 111. We assure the public that any information or report received will be treated with utmost confidentiality.
We will never discuss the source of our information, we assure total confidentiality of our sources. We want the public to regard this as a patriotic duty that must be performed for the development of our society. On our part, we assure you of our total commitment to perform our duty for the benefit of the good people of Rivers State�.
Answering questions later, Gen. Bello said some of those suspects that were picked up in the wake of the operation, �having been investigated, have been released�, stating that �if there is the need to arrest them again, of course we will go after them”.
We are poised to contain the general insecurity in the state and we shall stop at nothing in doing that. The JTF operation is a continuous thing and we are letting the citizenry know that they should be rest assured that Port Harcourt city and the entire state will soon be free of cult-related violence or activities�.
Sep172007