The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Joint Task Force

  • Military JTF deployed to Ekiti-Kwara border against bandits

    Ekiti State government has ordered the deployment of military Joint Task Force patrol across towns sharing border with Kwara State.

    The operational squad was instituted to curtail the overbearing influence of the suspected killer -bandits.

    Some suspected herdsmen last week Tuesday besieged a farmstead called Eda under Iyemero in Ikole Local Government Area of the State and shot two persons.

    They also raided some houses during the midnight attack.

    Those shot by assailants, including a seven-year- old boy later died in the hospital, which prompted Governor Kayode Fayemi to seek military intervention to save the border town from further carnage.

    The Olu of Iyemero-Ekiti Oba Ebenezer Ogungbemi commended Fayemi for his quick and tactical intervention.

    He said this was a true reflection of responsive and people-centred government.

    The monarch and members of his council, in a letter dated April, 20 and addressed to Fayemi, said the concerted effort of military and local hunters would annihilate the suspected killer herders and restore peace to the beleaguered community.

    Ogungbemi assured the community would help the soldiers with sensitive information to stem the tides of killings in the town.

    He said about 60 persons displaced from their respective houses and took refuge in his palace for three days, had since returned home due to Fayemi’s timely intervention.

    Read Also: MNJTF neutralises 39 terrorists

    The letter reads: “We are thankful to Governor Fayemi for deploying military joint task force to restore permanent peace and tranquillity to the people of Iyemero, which has guaranteed peaceful coexistence among the residents of the community.

    “Olu-in-Council and entire people of Iyemero Ekiti wish to express our deepest and  heartfelt  gratitude to the governor  for his immediate and prompt response during the last week insurgency , which  led to death, maiming , displacement, chaos and disturbance of public peace in our town.

    “With the support and assurances of Mr Governor, we are convinced that lasting peace is in sight and we are protected from the yet to be identified assailants and terrorists.

    “We are happy to inform you that the displaced farmers had returned to their farmstead”.

    The monarch added that the Governor had built the foundation of trust and confidence in the residents by approving immediate construction of a police station in Iyemero, which will provide safety and ward off criminals from the boundary community

    Ogungbemi assured that the local hunters had started receiving instructions on the need to be conventional in approach and refrain from any action that could portray them as being vindictive against any ethnic group.

    “This military deployment won’t stop us from being security conscious.

    “We are not unaware that the military can only discharge their duties effectively when they are provided with truthful information they can work upon.

    “We are also looking inwards to ensure that saboteurs have no room to operate, so that the operation targeted at curtailing these blood sucking bandits can be successful,” he said.

    The monarch expressed appreciation to the governor for being magnanimous towards the injured through payment of their hospital bills.

  • Bandits kill 50 civilian JTF, others in Zamfara

    No fewer than 50 persons, including members of Civilian Joint Task Force(CJTF) were killed in Zamfara by bandits on Tuesday, Speaker of the Zamfara State House Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, stated on Friday.

    Rikiji, who revealed this during a condolence visit to Kaura Namoda emirate, attributed the incidence to CJTF confrontation with bandits in a community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of the state.

    The Speaker, who led the state government delegation on the visit, decried the worsening security situation in the state.

    “We were told that the members of Civilian JTF have mobilised people from Sakajiki community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area and confronted the bandits in the forest which led to the killing of over 50 persons including members of CJTF,” he said.

    Rikiji, who is the Chairman of the State Government Relief and Damage Assessment Committee, described the act of the CJTF as unprofessional, saying ”confronting the bandits is not the duty of CJTF members.

    “Their duty is to support security personnel to carryout operations not to lead operations; only security agents have the right to organise operation to confront bandits,” he added.

    He urged traditional rulers in the state to caution CJTF members in their respective domain to avoid taking laws into their hands.

    “This is the directive from governor Abdul’aziz Yari that CJTF members should not confront bandits again; let them cooperate with the security personnel.

    “We have already received the list of the number of the deceased and other affected victims from the local government Chairman aimed at assisting them.

    Read Also: Better equipped bandits?

    “The state government would provide assistance to the families of the deceased and other victims of the incident very soon,” he added.

    Responding, the emir of Kaura Namoda, Alhaji Muhammad Asha, thanked the state government for the gesture and assured of his palace’s continued support and cooperation with government to address the problem.

    He said the emirate had embarked on special prayers to seek Allah’s intervention over the security challenges in the state.

    “We have already mobilised our Imams of Jumu’at Mosque and Ulamas to offer special prayers in this regard during Jumu’at prayers,” the emir said.

    The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Lawal Abdullahi, thanked the state government for the assistance to the victims.

    Abdullahi assured of the council’s continued support to the state and federal government in fighting insecurity in the area and the state.

  • JTF tasks promoted officers on professionalism

    JTF tasks promoted officers on professionalism

    The Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS), Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi, has tasked four promoted military officers in his command to apply professionalism in discharging the mandate of the security outfit.

    Apochi spoke recently at the headquarters of ODS in Igbogene, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, when the officers were decorated with their new ranks following their  promotions.

    The headquarters of ODS in Igbogene, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was a beehive as friends, spouses and relations of the beneficiaries trooped out to witness the formal decorations of the officers recognised for their sacrifices.

    The guests watched with excitement as the Commander ODS, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi presented Col. M.U. Muktar, and Lieutenant Commanders Thomas Otuji, Obiora Anyikwa and Roy Nweke with their new ranks.

    Muktar, the Sector 4 Commander, ODS in Delta State, was decorated with the rank of Brigadier-General while Anyikwa, Otuji and Obiora got their new ranks of Naval Commanders. The brand new Commander Anyikwa heads the Legal Department of ODS while Otuji was a former Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Office (JMCC).

    Apochi urged them to be of good conduct and view their new ranks as added responsibilities. He said promotion was divine and appealed to other officers to work, pray and wait for their time of elevation.

    The promoted officers, who spoke through Brig.Gen. Muktar, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, the Services Chiefs especially the chiefs of the Navy and the Army for considering them worthy of the promotions.

    He said they were conscious of the responsibilities attached to their new ranks and vowed to meet and exceed all expectations of their new positions. He specifically thanked Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi and Gen. A. Aligbe, saying without their guidance and support the promotions would never had seen the light of the day.

    Muktar appreciated their wives and other family members for their sacrifices in ensuring that their elevation sailed through. He recalled how his uncle encouraged him to join the army. He said having failed on two occasions to gain admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), he gave up the ambition.

    But the general said: “My uncle, Alhaji Suleiman, particular encouraged me to still try again for the third time. I failed to get admission into the Nigeria Defence Academy for the second time. I made up my mind that I was not going to try again.

    “I visited my uncle in Sokoto and that time he mentioned it and said, ‘why don’t you want to apply again? It doesn’t matter, try again’.  I heeded his advice and glory to the Almighty God, today here we are witnessing my decoration to the rank of Brigadier-General”.

    He prayed that those, He could not make the present promotion be considered in the next batch. He asked yet-to-be-promoted officers to be steadfast believing that their time of promotion would surely come.

    “Our prayer is for all those who missed the promotion this time, will get it next time coz truly God knows the best. Our prayer is that you will get it at the time it is most pleasing to the almighty God.

    “I want to assure everyone that we are conscious of the added responsibility and the expectations of greater efforts signalled by this promotion and I assure you we will spare no effort in meeting and indeed exceeding the expectations that come with this rank,” he said.

     

  • Jubilation as JTF decorates promoted officers

    Jubilation as JTF decorates promoted officers

    It was a day of joy for military officers serving at the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS). Four of them were decorated following their recent promotions by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Service Chiefs.

    The headquarters of ODS in Igbogene, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was a beehive as friends, spouses and relations of the beneficiaries trooped out to witness the formal decorations of the officers recognised for their sacrifices.

    The guests watched with excitement as the Commander ODS, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi presented Col. M.U. Muktar, and Lieutenant Commanders Thomas Otuji, Obiora Anyikwa and Roy Nweke with their new ranks.

    Muktar, the Sector 4 Commander, ODS in Delta State, was decorated with the rank of Brigadier-General while Anyikwa, Otuji and Obiora got their new ranks of Naval Commanders. The brand new Commander Anyikwa heads the Legal Department of ODS while Otuji was a former Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Office (JMCC).

    Apochi urged the promoted officers to be of good conduct and view their new ranks as added responsibilities. He said promotion was divine and appealed to other officers to work, pray and wait for their time of elevation.

    The promoted officers, who spoke through Brig.Gen. Muktar, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, the Services Chiefs especially the chiefs of the Navy and the Army for considering them worthy of the promotions.

    He said they were conscious of the responsibilities attached to their new ranks and vowed to meet and exceed all expectations of their new positions. He specifically thanked Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi and Gen. A. Aligbe, saying without their guidance and support the promotions would never had seen the light of the day.

    Muktar appreciated their wives and other family members for their sacrifices in ensuring that their elevation sailed through. He recalled how his uncle encouraged him to join the army. He said having failed on two occasions to gain admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), he gave up the ambition.

    But the general said: “Myy uncle, Alhaji Suleiman, particular encouraged me to still try again for the third time. I failed to get admission into the Nigeria Defence Academy for the second time. I made up my mind that I was not going to try again.

    “I visited my uncle in Sokokto and that time he mentioned it and said, ‘why don’t you want to apply again? It doesn’t matter, try again’.  I heeded his advice and glory to the Almighty God, today here we are witnessing my decoration to the rank of Brigadier-General”.

    He prayed that those, Ho could not make the present promotion be considered in the next batch. He asked yet-to-be-promoted officers to be steadfast believing that their time of promotion would surely come.

    “Our prayer is for all those who missed the promotion this time, will get it next time coz truly God knows the best. Our prayer is that you will get it at the time it is most pleasing to the almighty God.

    “I want to assure everyone that we are conscious of the added responsibility and the expectations of greater efforts signaled by this promotion and I assure you we will spare no effort in meeting and indeed exceeding the expectations that come with this rank”, he said.

     

  • Bayelsa Govt. condemns attack on JTF, commiserates with military on deaths

    Bayelsa Govt. condemns attack on JTF, commiserates with military on deaths

    The Bayelsa government has condemned the recent ambush and killing of members of a military security patrol team by unknown gunmen around Letugbene Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls the armed men suspected to be militants had on Aug. 28 ambushed a security boat operated by the Joint Military Task Force.
    The attack left two crew members dead, a soldier and a civillian.
    Spokesman of the Joint Task Force deployed to the Niger Delta, Major Ibrahim Abdullahi had on Friday confirmed the death of a soldier and civillian crew member in the attack.
    The government in a statement, issued by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Jonathan Obuebite expressed regret over the unfortunate incident.
    Obuebite described the incident as unwarranted, barbaric and totally unacceptable.
    He said that information available to the government indicated that the attack on the JTF was not hinged on any provocation or contending issues.
    He said that the incident was purely an act of criminality, adding that it was deliberately carried to rubbish the security and peace efforts of Gov. Seriake Dickson led administration.
    The information commissioner expressed the sympathy of the state government to the immediate families of deceased and the Nigerian Army.
    He, therefore, called for a thorough investigation of the incident so as to unravel the circumstances surrounding the unprovoked attack.
    Obuebite said the probe of the incident would ensure that everybody found guilty of involvement in any form was brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.
    “To us, this incident is politically motivated and sponsored by some persons in high places to heat up the state for their selfish interests.
    “And as a government, we will not fold our arms and allow a few individuals to rubbish the peace and security we have been able to bring to our state.
    “We will support the security agencies in whichever way possible in carrying out their investigations in this matter,” he said.
    Obuebite said that the state government would resist every move by mischief makers to take the state back to its inglorious past.

  • Police seek clues on deadly Bayelsa community attack

    The Police Command in Bayelsa on Friday called for information that would lead to the arrest of suspects, who killed a resident of Korokorosei Community in Southern Ijaw.

    According to the Spokesman of the command, Mr Asinim Butswat, the killing carried out on Wednesday might be a reprisal attack.

    Sources at Korokorosei community told our reporter that the attackers shot dead a young man identified simply as Erelayefa.

    Two pupils of a primary school in the community were also injured.

    Sources said the home of the coordinator of the state’s oil and gas task force and three other homes were set ablaze.

    Butswat said the attack might not be unconnected with the arrest of three suspects by men of the Joint Task Force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps over vandalism of oil facilities.

    He said the suspects were arrested over their alleged involvement in the December 2016 attack on the Tebidaba trunk line, operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company.

     

  • Troops arrest suspected pipeline bombers in N’Delta

    Troops arrest suspected pipeline bombers in N’Delta

    Troops of Operation Pulo Shield (OPS), formerly known as Joint Task Force (JTF) have arrested some suspects for the recent attacks of oil pipelines and installations in the Niger Delta region.

    The Commander, OPS, Maj.-Gen. Alani Okunlola, in a statement signed by the Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, Col. Ado Isa, said the suspects were undergoing investigations.

    Okunlola said the investigations would determine the culpability of suspects before transferring them to relevant prosecuting agencies.

    He said the troops were on manhunt for other hoodlums who were on the run.

    But the commander failed to indicate the number of persons arrested by the operatives.

    He said: “The success of the arrest was due to highly intensified patrols and cordon-and-search operations on the waterways, creeks and communities by the outfit.”

    Suspected militants recently vandalised some oil and gas pipelines across the Niger Delta including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation gas pipeline in Egwa 1, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State and Agip pipelines in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State.

    Okunlola further said that the troops had intensified patrols and cordon-and-search within their Area of Responsibility (AoR).

    The commander also assured the people of Niger Delta of the OPS’ determination to tackle all acts of illegalities in the region.

    He appealed to them to give useful information that would aid the Joint Force in its operations in line with its mandate in the Niger Delta.

    He further warned the perpetrators of the crimes to desist from further destruction of oil facilities or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.

    Also, the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) called on the host communities to protect oil and gas pipelines in their domains against vandalism to save the environment from widespread pollution.

    The National Coordinator, CEPEJ, Mr. Sheriff Mulade, urged oil-rich communities to see the installations in their domain as theirs and ensure vandals steer clear of them.

    Mulade bemoaned incessant destruction of pipelines by vandals insisting that the quest for ill-gotten wealth was destroying the environment.

    He said the damage done to the environment by pipeline vandals would take many years to reclaim and warned against self-destruction arising from illegal bunkering by the locals.

    He said: “People should know that they are polluting their environment through vandalism and this illicit trade.  The effect of pollution on the environment is massive especially the health hazards, erosion of livelihoods and all that.

    “Therefore, we should know that when we destroy the environment, we are intentionally destroying ourselves because the environment is our only heritage.”

    Mulade said adequate measures should be put in place to check the unwholesome activities of oil thieves and vandals and advised security agencies to adopt intelligence gathering mechanism to track the perpetrators.

    He also advised the Federal Government to investigate security agents stationed at the facilities following allegations that they were conniving with vandals for their selfish interest.

  • JTF commander brokers peace between firm, host community

    JTF commander brokers peace between firm, host community

    The Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, has brokered peace between the Okomu Oil Palm Plantation and the Okomu Community in Edo.

    A statement yesterday in Yenagoa by the spokesman of the JTF, Lt.-Col Isa Ado,  said the two parties had been at quarelling for many years.

    The community had accused the company of neglect and environmental pollution without compensation and non-employment of Okomu citizens.

    Anka said the reconciliation of the feuding parties by the commander followed several meetings at the Headquarters of the JTF and in Okomu town.

    The statement quoted the traditional ruler of the community and the Apoi of Okomu Ijaw, Dr Biowei Yuyu, as thanking the commander for the reconciliation and promised to maintain the agreement accord reached.

    The Managing Director of Okomu Palm Company, Dr Graham Hefer, thanked Atewe for mediating in the dispute, which he said had affected the production of the company for some time.

    The statement said the commander and the traditional ruler also inaugurated a nine-member Development Council to oversee affairs between the company and the community.

    “It was agreed that the company should withdraw all pending litigations against the community immediately and put the two borehole sunk for the benefit of the community in good working condition.

    “The company also promised to provide job opportunities to qualified indigenes of the community,’’ it said.

    Anka said that the commander of the JTF also promised to sink an additional borehole to complement the two already donated by the company.

  • Pirates kill three soldiers in Bayelsa

    Pirates kill three soldiers in Bayelsa

    Gunmen, suspected to be pirates, have killed three soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF), code-named: Operation Pulo Shield, on Bayelsa State waterways.

    It was gathered that the pirates hijacked a military gunboat after killing their victims at 4pm on Sunday.

    The gunmen reportedly ambushed the soldiers at Santa Barbara, a river in Nembe, Nembe Local Government Area, known for regular banditry.

    The incident occurred barely two months after gunmen, in separate attacks, killed four policemen and abducted six other persons on the waterway.

    The slain policemen, who were escorting a barge belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), also lost their gunboat to the hoodlums.

    In the new attack, the victims were also said to be escorting some items to Brass Terminal, belonging to NAOC, when the gunmen opened fire on them.

    A security source said the soldiers were sailing from Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, to Brass, Bayelsa State, when they came under attack.

    The source, who spoke in confidence, added: “They (soldiers) were ambushed by deadly pirates. It is suspected that the gunmen, who hijacked the gunboat, later killed the soldiers and threw their bodies into the water or they shot and pushed them into the water before stealing the gunboat.

    “The gunboat appears to be the target of the hoodlums, especially as arms are being stockpiled by militants.”

    Santa Barbara, where the incident occurred, is in Nembe and is notorious for piracy.”

    But an Operation Pulo Shield official, who did not wish to be named, said the soldiers were not dead but missing.

    JTF’s outgoing Media Coordinator Col. Mustapha Anka confirmed the attack.

    But he said it was premature to conclude that the soldiers were killed by the pirates.

    Anka said the task force had activated its search-and-rescue team, adding that efforts were being made to locate the whereabouts of the soldiers.

  • Boko Haram commander killed in Maiduguri – JTF

    The Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order (ORO) on Saturday confirmed the killing of a suspected Boko Haram commander, Mohammed Chad, during a special operation in Maiduguri.

    JTF’s spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, made this known via a statement in Maiduguri on Saturday.

    “A special operation was conducted at Ruwan-Zafi area of Maiduguri by troops of the JTF and operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) last Friday.

    “The operation led to the death of a notorious terrorist commander, a.k.a. Mohammed Chad, an indigene of Marte,  Borno, who had been on the wanted list of the JTF,” the statement said.

    It said that the late Chad was linked to many terrorist attacks in Borno and other states in the recent past.

    “Intelligence reports indicate that he was involved in the planning and execution of many terror attacks in and outside Borno.

    “For instance, he masterminded the attack on Sanda Karami Secondary School at Ruwan Zafi on March 13, where a teacher was killed and some female students injured.

    “He is believed to be the successor to the late Ba’ana Assalafi, a key commander who lost his life during a shootout with security agencies in Sokoto on March 13,’’ the statement added.