The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) operating in Rivers State Monday declared the leader of the Niger Delta Vigilance Group, Mr. Ateke Tom wanted over his alleged complicity in the series of killings and robbery attacks in the state in the last few months.
Ateke was earlier declared wanted in 2003 and the Rivers State Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr.Samuel Inyang in a press briefing Monday in Port Harcourt claimed the command was still looking for the militia leader.
Last weekend the military task force had attacked the Ochochiri base of the militant group, in Okrika and claimed to have successfully arrested five members of the NDVG during the gun duel.
But the task force failed to capture Ateke, its main target, who was reported to have fled the base on a tip-off by informants believed to be highly placed in government circles.
Inyang claimed that the five members of the militant group arrested during the raid had been making useful information to the JTF.
He said intelligence reports indicated the militant group were responsible for recent bank robberies in the state, adding that security agencies were combat-ready to put an end to their reign.
The police boss said that no fewer than twenty policemen and civilians were killed in such attacks, adding that the group was equally responsible for the seizure of two marine patrol boats and the killing of its six occupants a week ago.
According to him, Ateke and his group also invaded the premises of Nigeria Agip Oil Company Limited early this year, an attack that led to the killing of nine policemen and a civilian.
Inyang said the same militant group attacked a commercial bank on Trans Amadi in Port Harcourt last month where about #194 million was stolen and a policeman and civilian killed in the process.
Items recovered from the militants, the commissioner said include 10 Hi-fi walkie talkies, about 1500 live ammunition, four pairs of military and police uniforms, five motorized boats, two gas cylinders and two generators.