LEADER of Camp 5, a militant group in Delta State, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, who was declared wanted by the Joint Task Force (JTF) on the Niger-Delta, last Thursday has sent words from his hideout to his men to stop further “battle” with the JTF in view of the bombardment of Ijaw communities by the task force and killing of innocent men, women and children.
The directive by Tompolo, who was declared wanted over the attack on Nigerian soldiers and kidnap of foreign nationals was confirmed to Vanguard by one of his top aides, just as a Gbaramatu leader and president of the Federated Niger-Delta Ijaw Communities (FNDIC), Chief Bello Oboko, disclosed yesterday, that the Movement for Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND) has also withdrawn from its declared war with the JTF in the war-ravaged kingdom.
A source close to Tompolo said he fled Camp 5 before the JTF overran the den, last week, following his personal conviction and advice from Ijaw leaders that there was no need to engage the JTF in an all-out battle.
He said, “Camp 5 people have since dispersed and are not fighting any battle with the JTF at the moment, any battle the JTF says they are fighting now with militants is not with us, they are just razing Ijaw communities in the name of search and rescue operation”.
Chief Oboko who, weekend, called on the JTF to review its declaration of Tompolo as a wanted person on the grounds that he had been collaborating with the task force, state and federal governments on the peace process before now in a press statement said, “We refer to our earlier statement published in Vanguard newspaper on Wednesday May 20, 2009 that Gbaramatu Kingdom is not a part and parcel of the declaration of war with the Nigerian nation/army by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which we asked to steer clear of Gbaramatu Kingdom”.
“With reports also that the JTF has dislodged militants, we are disturbed at the continued destruction of civil Ijaw communities thereby spreading deaths, discomfort and hopelessness.
“We, therefore, reiterate our call on the JTF to kindly cease fire and discontinue its (JTF) war on the defenceless Gbaramatu-Ijaw people and allow place for dialogue”, Chief Oboko said.
JTF bombs victims in hospital
Meanwhile, some victims of the aerial bombardment of Ijaw communities by the Joint Task Force on the Niger-Delta who were rushed to a hospital, in the riverside community of Okerenkoko, for medical attention were bombed in the hospital with helicopter gunships, Vanguard was told yesterday.
But members of the House of Representatives from Delta State, have described as “regrettable” and “unfortunate”, the position of the House of Representatives last Thursday, backing the ongoing military action in the state in the name of fishing out militants.
An official of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) confirmed to Vanguard when contacted yesterday that the hospital built for the people of Okerenkoko by the Commission was bombed in a raid by the JTF.
A native of Oporoza who escaped the war-torn community to Warri, told Vanguard that some members of the community who were taken to the hospital after the May 20 bombing of Oporoza died in the hospital when the task force bombed the Okerenkoko hospital.
Operations extended to Rivers
Also, the Joint Task Force yesterday extended its onslaught against militants to Rivers State in a dawn raid on suspected militants’ hideout at Abonnema town in Rivers State. After a fierce exchange of gunfire with the militants, one Mr Nana Sele, suspected to be the leader of the militants, was shot dead.
JTF spokesman, Colonel Rabe Abubakar who confirmed the Abonema raid said the other militants sustained gunshot injuries.
Also, Olabrakonpre, a suburb of Benikrukru community, was burnt down yesterday. A community source who spoke to Vanguard said many houses were destroyed by fire ignited by the JTF. But a source said some people were carrying out illegal bunkering in the area and that was why the task force attacked the area.
Our source hinted that even the Sunday attack on Benikrukru was because the JTF suspected that some militants were hiding there.
JTF has exceeded its brief — Ijaw Assembly
Meanwhile, the Ijaw Peoples’ Assembly (IPA) led by Mr. Asu Beks also last weekend condemned the use of excessive force by the Military High Command, especially the motion by the House of Representatives, which gave a blank cheque to the military to go out for a total offensive in Delta, Bayelsa and River States.
The Assembly in a statement viewed the motion, not only as insensitive, but unbecoming of a crop of political leaders who have shown total disdain for the rule of law and the tenets of democratic governance. The group said: “Mr. President should ensure that the military onslaught is not allowed to spread to neighbouring Niger-Delta States and such as Bayelsa and Rivers States; Governors, Political Leaders, NDDC, Niger Delta Ministry should immediately convene a stakeholders’ meeting as prelude to ensuring a genuine disarmament in the region; and relief centres should be opened for victims of the bloodbath”, the IPA stated.
17 hostages rescued
However, in continuation of its cordon and search operation, the JTF said yesterday that three Filipinos have been rescued from Oporoza community.
Its imagemaker, Colonel Abubakar who gave their names as Enrico Arelano, Romeo Naclicar and Napoleon Emphasis said they were receiving treatment at the JTF hospital.
“The security outfit, in continuation of its intensive search and rescue mission, has so far rescued a total of seventeen foreigners, including Filipinos, Ukrainians and four Nigerians, who were held hostage by militants from Camp 5 and other neighbouring camps. It is pertinent to note that in all the communities searched by the JTF so far, large quantities of arms and ammunition, as well as hostages kidnapped by the militants, were discovered”, he noted.
“Military hardware as well as nine hostages were also discovered in Camp 5, two from Okerenkoko while three were rescued from Oporoza in the early morning of today (yesterday), he said.
Operation not targeted at individuals
“With the successes recorded so far in the course of this operation, the Task Force wants to debunk the allegation that its troops are targeting some individuals, or certain ethnic groups.
“We conducted the operations in the most professional manner and the security outfit is only focusing on the areas where there are militants and their hideouts where hostages were being kept.
“It is not a random operation and people should commend us for what we have done so far”, he said.
“The JTF wants to use this opportunity to reiterate that as long as our men are not found, the operation will be ongoing. Therefore, we are soliciting for the cooperation of the public, especially those affected by this purge, to furnish us with information that will lead to the arrest of the miscreants who unleashed terror on innocent members of the communities.”, he said.
‘Soldiers did not loot palace’
“Our attention has again been drawn to statement credited to some citizens in the Niger Delta and published on the pages of some print media that the JTF soldiers looted the palace of the Chief of Gbaramatu Kingdom.
“It should be noted that such a statement is not true and holds no water as the JTF is in Gbaramatu to carry out important security assignment. We are doing that and we will continue to do so. Looting is against the ethics of military anywhere in the world and ours is not an exemption”, JTF spokesman added.
Militants destroying Nigeria — Arewa
On its part, the Arewa Consultative Forum has accused the miltants of destroying the very fabrics which hold Nigeria together.
Its Chairman, General IBM Haruna (rtd.) who spoke to Vanguard on phone said the militants were operating in a manner detrimental to the existence of the Nigerian state and the Federal Government had to confront them with the JTF, and both sides were using highly sophisticated weapons.
His words, “It will be shameful if the Nigerian state is defeated by militants, that is why we must support the government. But I think there is a principle involved when civilians are living in the areas of such conflict, the JTF should use minimum force to counter the aggravated power of the militants”.
He observed that the Nigerian state has bended backwards to provide for the Niger-Delta as the region that produces oil by giving them a lot of incentives in terms of derivation and the recent creation of the Ministry of Niger-Delta and urged the people to reciprocate by allowing peace to reign.
Gen Haruna, nevertheless, said the safety of innocent persons who are not part of the conflict should be protected by the government.
Delta Reps caucus condemn House stand on crisis
Members of the House of Representatives from Delta State, have described as, “regrettable” and “unfortunate”, the position of the House of Representatives last Thursday, backing the ongoing military action in Delta state in the name of fishing out militants.
A motion moved by Rep Halims Agoda, last Thursday, had among others, wanted all parties in the confrontation to maintain the peace. But when it came to the general debate, it was amended by other members to include support for the military action and its expansion to Rivers and Bayelsa States.
Expressing the feelings of the Delta State Reps’ caucus to the media yesterday, Agoda said his members are shocked by the amendments and said it was a much regrettable development.
“We want to sympathise with our people in Delta state and the entire Niger Delta region who are experiencing untold hardship as a result of the military action”, he said, “I hereby call for the resumption of meaningful dialogue to enable a bumper resolution if the problem”
Agoda, who represents Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal constituency of Delta State asserted that his motion on Niger Delta went out of the control of his control and that of his sponsors as a result of the procedures of the House which allows for amendments from interested members leading to the insertion of additional prayers that were subsequently later adopted.