| Chief of Army Staff (COS), Lt-Gen Onyeabo Azubuike Ihejirika, has explained the reason the security authorities in Nigeria have not arrested backslidden ex-militant leader, John Togo. He said though his whereabout is fully known to the army his arrest is deferred for strategic security reasons.
He stated this shortly after undertaking an extensive tour of the camp of ex-militant leader,”General” John Togo and his hometown of Ayakoromo in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State yesterday. Ihejirika undertook an on-the-spot assessment of the extent of damage to numerous houses and other property in Ayakoromo, which were mostly lost to fire allegedly resulting from the cross-fire between the JTF and the militants that reportedly fled to the coastal settlement following the fall of the “General” Togo base. General Ihejirika said that the security Joint Task Force (JTF), which is the arrow-head of the Federal Government’s offensive against militancy and related crimes in the Niger-Delta, was only being cautious about its offensive to route out John Togo in order to avoid unnecessary civilian casualties. He said that the security authorities were carrying out “painstaking planning and intelligence” on the movement of John Togo, who the JTF accused of trying to use “civilians as shield” against the security agency’s attacks. He nevertheless assured that the fugitive’s every move was being closely monitored in the Niger-Delta. |
Dec292010