The Joint Task Force code-named ‘Operation Restore Hope’ in the Niger Delta has placed its troops on red alert, particularly in Bayelsa and Rivers states following last weekend’s clashes.
The task force was attacked at Clough Creek in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Chevron’s facility at Robert Kiri, a boundary between the two states, was invaded by an armed group 24 hours later.
JTF reiterated its warning that its troops would not fold their hands and watch hoodlums take control of the oil-rich region, insisting that it was determined to maintain peace and security and safeguard strategic national assets, in line with its mandate.
The spokesman of security outfit who doubles as the Co-ordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC), Lt.-Col. Rabe Abubakar, said the task force uncovered plans by militants to derail the peace process and push the military to an unwarranted confrontation.
He spoke against the backdrop of confrontation with militants at the Clough Creek in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, last week and the attack on a military formation at the weekend.
He said: “The militants have lost relevance in the present dispensation, hence, they are engaging in this unholy propaganda to achieve their personal and unpatriotic interest. This will not happen as the JTF will not fold its hands to allow economic saboteurs and criminals to go unchecked.” According to Lt.-Col. Abubakar, troops are on high alert to maintain peace and security in the volatile oil region.
Besides, he confirmed that JTF troops raided the hideout of miscreants terrorising Apoi Community in Southern Ijaw of Bayelsa State .
“The miscreants fled on sighting the troops but the CDC Chairman of the Community handed one locally made pistol and one powerline pistol recovered earlier by the youths of the community from the hoodlums to JTF troops.”
The task force is also on the trail of a militant leader, Commander Ebikabowei (aka Boyloaf), over his alleged involvement in the hijack and abduction of two crewmen of the Boriefish Hercules vessel of Offshore Nigeria Limited.
Speaking on the November 5 confrontation at Clough Creek, Lt.- Col.Abubakar said JTF Commander, Brig.-Gen. Wuyep Rimtip, “strongly warned the perpetrators of this attack to desist or face the consequences as our men are on red alert.”
Meanwhile, JTF said it apprehended one suspected oil pipeline vandal at PPMC berth, Warri, Delta State who siphoned products from a vandalised pipeline conveying condensate.
Lt. Col. Abubakar said that at about 5:22pm on Tuesday, PPMC pipeline patrol team encountered men armed with locally made guns suspected to be oil bunkerers around Egborode enroute Adeje and arrested one Lucky William while trying to escape with his conspirators.
He noted that other suspects escaped, abandoning items such as three 50litres jerrycan of DKP, one wheel barrow, two shovels, a hammer and one 32-33 spanner, adding that dugout 24 inch PPMC pipeline with condensate product discharging into a dug hole was discovered at Orereolumba by patrol team.
Lt.-Col. Abubakar said one illegal refinery around Abiteye in Warri South West Local Government Area was destroyed while two electric generating plants, three pumping machines, four pieces of roofing sheets, three axes, two welding masks, five iron buckets and a valve were retrieved.