There is tension between the Joint Task Force (JTF) and suspected militant youths in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State over alleged invasion of their camp by troops of the task force.
The JTF troops stormed Opuye-Opuye Camp of the armed group on Wednesday, ostensibly in search of suspected oil bunkerers, it was learnt.
The camp, according to a source, is located between the two high yielding Dibi and Abiteye facilities of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL). Bunkering barges and other items of the illicit trade were reportedly carted away by the troops, sources said.
The Co-ordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre of the JTF, Lt.-Col. Rabe Abubakar, denied that there was any clash between its troops and any group in Warri on Wednesday.
Lt.-Col. Abubakar said: “There was only one (vessel) that was arrested at Sapele and detained. But after a thorough investigation, it was discovered that it was not involved in illegal oil business. It was empty, hence, it was let go.”
He said the JTF Commander, Brig.-Gen. Wuyep Rimtip, reaffirmed his commitment to fight against illegal bunkering, within the limits of the rule of law.
He said the JTF is in the region to “put smiles on the faces of the people without compromising the national security.”
But investigation revealed that there was indeed an incident around the Opuye-Opuye Camp that led to the tension.
Armed youths and masterminds of the illicit crude oil business were spoiling for a showdown with the JTF troops.
Some riverside dwellers said some of the armed youths were sighted in speedboats, searching for troops to engage in a gunfight.
“They believed that the action was influenced by their rival, who is using them as a pawn with the JTF while similar operation is going on unhindered on some unnamed locations in the area,” the source said.