The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Rivers State yesterday took the fight once more to the creeks, as they raided Ajakajak, Udungama and Okukpor in Andoni Local Government Area, Rivers State where one militant leader, Mr. George Adumu was feared killed.
Some of the militants who were loyal to Adumu said they last saw him with blood all over him as he was running towards the creek with a view to swimming to safety. His loyalists said Adumu has since then not been seen as they suspected he might have died from the attack.
Although the Spokesman for the JTF, Lt. Colonel Musa Sagir disclosed that soldiers went after the militant leader who he claimed might have escaped.
He said the taskforce however destroyed his camp without any loss of life on either sides. Sagir said the operation was led by the JTF Commander, Sarkin Yaki-Bello and his counterpart in the Navy and therefore could not have resorted into any action that will result in civilian casualties.
Local community sources, however, claimed that they could not account for over 20 people who they said may have been killed in the shoot -out which occured on the water and land simultaneously.
When THISDAY confronted Sagir on the allegation made by members of the community concerning casualties, he denied the claim. “In my honour as an officer of the Nigerian Army, nobody was killed, wounded or arrested throughout the operation. The community people are happy for the rescue and they offered us three of their boats to help ferry us to some points when our patrol crafts were blocking the exit points”.
Musa said intelligence reports were to the effect that Adumu was involved in kidnapping, sea piracy, robbery and other anti-social activities which were disturbing the peace of the community and its people.
He asked residents who were fleeing the hostility return home as they were not the target of the action.
Musa said Adumu was working in league with Soboma George and that the task force targeted specific houses and the evil forest which intelligence reports linked to illegal activities.
Jan182009