Security operatives in the Niger Delta may have begun a manhunt for the militants behind the unending spate of attacks on oil installations in the region.
It was gathered that the efforts were being coordinated by the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, otherwise known as Operation Restore Hope.
Already, some notable militants and youth leaders in the region have been placed on surveillance by JTF, made up of representatives of all the security agencies in the country.
Findings showed that the JTF action was in compliance with last Friday�s order of an offensive against militancy and criminality in the region by President Umaru Yar�Adua.
Consequently, CLN has shut down the swamp operations in the Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, which produce about 180,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Yar�Adua, who was embarrassed by the incessant attacks on the oil facilities in the region despite his peace efforts, said on Friday that his government would no longer tolerate criminality in any form.
To this end, reliable sources in JTF told one of our correspondents that Yar�Adua, shortly after the meeting on Friday, directed the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Owoye Azazi, who supervises the JTF, to uncover the identities of those hiding under the cloak of Niger Delta struggle to inflict wilful damage on the oil equipment in the region.
Yar�Adua, through Azazi, reportedly warned the authorities of JTF not to allow further attacks on the oil facilities in any part of the region.
Our source said the Commander of JTF, Brig.-Gen. Wuyep Rimtip, had taken some steps to carry out the presidential order.
Investigation revealed that detectives had been deployed in some major coastal communities and cities in the region in order to apprehend the masterminds of the prolonged crises in the area.
Similarly, the JTF has stationed some gunboats at some strategic locations in the coastal areas of the region to curb criminal acts.
Besides, NNS Delta, Warri Naval Base, one of the security agencies under the supervision of JTF on Friday deployed some gunships and patrol craft in the areas under its jurisdiction in the region in order to avert fresh attacks on the nation�s strategic economic assets.
The Commanding Officer of the naval formation, Navy Capt. Samson Ojediran, supervised and led the operation meant to secure the waterways for law abiding citizens to carry out legitimate undertakings.
The source in JTF stated, �The JTF is working around the clocks to apprehend the criminals disturbing the Niger Delta as ordered by the President. We started the efforts immediately the order was conveyed to us on Friday by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Owoye Azazi.
�As I speak to you today (Saturday), our detectives are in the nooks and crannies of the region looking for these criminals.�
When contacted, Rimtip confirmed that the JTF was ready to confront the militants and secure the nation�s economic assets.
Although Rimtip refused to give details of the operation, he said the JTF was poised to stop further attacks on oil installations in the region.
�Of course, you should know that we want to identify the people behind the criminal acts and initiate fresh efforts to secure the oil facilities. We are beefing up security in the oil locations,� he added.