AT least 100 persons have been arrested in Iloabuchi, a Port Harcourt slum, in the first raid launched by the Joint Task Force to flush out militants from the city.
The offensive is part of the ongoing crack down on militants by the authorities following a directive by the Presidency.
Eye witnesses confirmed the arrests to our correspondents when they visited Eagle Island, and Timber Market at Iloabuchi, on Saturday.
The JTF is made up of the navy, the airforce, army and the police.
Stern looking armed military personnel were seen at the Eagle Island at around 1 pm at the scene of the arrest.
Military helicopters were still hovering at the area apparently to locate the the hideout of the hoodlums residing in the area and at the creeks around the area.
Trading activities at the Iloabuchi Timber Market was at its lowest ebb as at 2pm when our correspondent got to the place. Many stalls at the market had been closed down and those that were around were obviously living in fear.
An Okada rider told our correspondents that his younger brother, who was arrested, had since been released.
The crackdown followed Wednesday order by President Olusegun Obasanjo that the militants� activities would no longer be tolerated.
The Army Public Relation Officer, Major Sagir Musa, when contacted on the telephone, said the slum had become a dwelling place for the militants.
He said, �Security and intelligence reports revealed that militants engaged in the kidnapping of oil workers and selective stealing are residing in the place. So we decided to go and do cordon- and-search at the place.�
Musa declined to give the number of the people arrested but said that the crackdown would continue.
He added that the JTF would not relent until the state was rid of hostage takers and other criminals.
He said that the operations would also be taken to the creeks where the militants usually take their targets to.
An eyewitness, who gave his name as Harry, said that the operation, which began at 6.45pm saw the JTF searching from house to house looking for militants.
He stated, �I just started hearing gunshots everywhere, I tried to find out if it was a robbery case but I saw soldiers. I had to run away from the scene to avoid been shot.
The shooting forced traders at the nearby timber market and firshermen to flee for safety.
The militants, who abducted four expatriates at GoodFellas Night Club in Port Harcourt last Sunday escaped, throught the Eagle Island. Also Agip Oil Company was attacked through the same area.
Five expatriates were abducted last week alone, while the militants also released six from their custody.
The leader of the Niger Delta Vigilance Group, Ateke Tom, had queried the government for contemplating the attack on the militants. The leader of the Niger Delta United Front, Mr. Richie Richard, had also accused Obasanjo administration of turning Niger Delta youths into militants.
Ateke had warned the Federal Government in an exclusive interview with our correspondents that further attacks on him and his boys would be retaliated by his group.
He said, �It is not good for the President to declare war on us. What we need in this area is development and not attack.
�But let me say that if they attack us, we shall defend ourselves. That is very certain and I want them to know that even though we have surrendered our weapons to the government, we can still defend ourselves in the event of any attack by the government or its agents.�
Richard aslo said, �Even if the government sends in ten million battalions, we shall crush them because the administration has offended us and our people and because the God of justice is on our side.�