The Nation Newspaper

Tag: JTF

  • JTF repels attack in Borno

    JTF repels attack in Borno

    The Joint Task Force on Operation Restore Order in Borno said on Thursday that it repelled an attack by unknown gunmen in Marte Local Government Area of the state.

    JTF spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, said in a statement in Maiduguri that the attack was targeted at the 21 Brigade, Nigerian Army troops in the area.

    “This is to confirm that at about 2 p.m. on Wednesday, gunmen attacked the 21 Brigade troops’ location in Marte. In the process, one soldier and one police man lost their lives,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Musa as saying in the statement.

    He, however, said that five of the attackers were killed in the shootout.

    Musa said that several items, including two AK 47 rifles and a locally made double barrel gun were recovered.

     

  • JTF impounds vessel in Rivers

    The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta has impounded a vessel suspected to be carrying 1, 000 tonnes of crude oil off the coast of Bonny Island in Rivers State.

    The Commander of the 2 Brigade and Sector Two of JTF, Maj.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, paraded nine suspected crew members of the vessel before reporters in Bonny yesterday.

    Buratai, who was represented by Maj. Michael Etete, the 2 Brigade Army Public Relations Officer, said the Nigerian registered vessel was arrested while illegally siphoning crude oil from a pipeline.

    He said the nine male crew members, who were arrested, were Nigerians.

    “Following military intelligence report on December 29, troops of Sector two deployed in Bonny, arrested a vessel registered MT Atlantic Star illegally siphoning crude oil from a pipeline.

    “At the time of the impoundment, the vessel had loaded about 1, 000 tonnes of stolen crude oil and nine crew members on board the vessel were also arrested.

    “Further investigation is on-going and the suspects will be handed over to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps for prosecution.

    “JTF restates its commitment toward stamping out oil theft, oil bunkering and other criminal activities within its area of responsibility in-line with its mandate,” he said.

    Buratai called on the public and organisations to provide information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of oil thieves in 2013.

    The captain of the vessel, Rauf Rasak, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it was hijacked by six gunmen, who threatened to kill the crew members, if he refused to cooperate.

    Rasak claimed that the gunmen immediately took over the vessel and anchored it in Bonny and loaded the vessel with the illegal crude oil.

    “The gunmen had threatened to kill us if we didn’t cooperate; we had no choice but to obey.

    “While loading the vessel with the crude oil, men of the JTF approached us and the gunmen fled the scene,” he said.

    The captain said the crew was innocent of the charges brought against them by the JTF.

     

  • JTF destroys 10,000 drums of illegal product

    Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, Sector 3 of the 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, on Wednesday destroyed 10,000 drums used for lifting illegal diesel product in Cross River.

    The Public Relations Officer of the 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, Capt. James Joseph, told journalists in Calabar, that five people were arrested including a serving Assistant Superintendent of Police.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the drums containing the illegal diesel was destroyed at Nigerian Army burning site at Ikang in Bakassi Local Government Area of the state.

    He said the JTF arrested the illegal `bunkerers’ at Mesembe Avenue at Anatigha in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River through an intelligent report.

    Joseph said the oil thieves were arrested on Christmas Eve at about 7pm, noting that the area was one of the hideout in Calabar South.

    “We got an intelligent reports about this hideout, you can see in their hideaway, there are over 10,000 drums of diesel products and when we came, we raided the place,’’ he said.

    He said that Nigerian Army was determined to curb the activities of oil theft in Cross River in particular and Nigeria in general.

     

  • Damaturu: JTF recovers 11 riffles

    The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Yobe on Sunday recovered 11 rifles in Kandahar Area of Damaturu, two weeks after 5,000 rounds of ammunition were discovered in the area.

    In a statement issued by the JTF spokesmen, Lt. Eli Lazarus, in Damaturu, he said the taskforce recovered nine Fabric Nationale and two riot gun rifles in Kandahar.
    “The JTF in a cordon and search operation in Kandahar area of Damaturu recovered nine Fabric Nationale (FB) and two riot guns, making a total number of 11 riffles recovered,” he said.

    The taskforce appealed to members of the public to report any suspicious persons, movements and objects in their areas for prompt response.

    Eli assured that any information supplied to the JTF, would be treated with utmost confidentiality.

    “We appreciate every piece of information that will assist the JTF in its operation toward restoring peace and security across the state.’’

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that business activities were gradually picking up in Damaturu as residents who fled had made a u-turn following the improved security situation in the state.

  • JTF recovers buried ammunition in Damaturu

     

    The Joint Task Force in Yobe on Tuesday said it recovered 5,207 rounds of assorted ammunition buried in a hideout in Kandahar area of Damaturu.

    JTF spokesman, Lt. Lazarus Eli, said in a statement in Damaturu that the items were recovered on Monday during a search operation in the area.

    He said two pistols, a rifle, three hand grenades and Improvised Explosive Devices were also recovered during the operation.

    “The ammunition were lubricated to avoid rust, concealed in plastic cans and buried,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the JTF spokesman as saying in the statement.

    He urged members of the public to report suspicious persons and materials in their areas and restated the determination of the force to provide security to the people of the state.

     

  • JTF recovers arms in Damaturu

    JTF recovers arms in Damaturu

    The Joint Task Force (JTF) yesterday recovered a cache of ammunition and arms in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State.

    The JTF displayed the ammunitions to reporters in Damaturu. It said the arms contain 5,207 rounds. Other items recovered, according to the spokesman, include: two pistols, one riffle, three grenades and several Improvise Explosive Devices (IED).

    Spokesman of JTF in Yobe State Lieutenant Eli Lazarus said the arms were recovered following a tip off, leading to a search operation at Kandahar.

    He explained that the items were concealed in a plastic jerry cans and buried in the ground in a suspected Boko Haram terrorists arms’ store, adding that the ammunition were adequately lubricated to ensure better preservation and to avoid rusting.

  • JTF arrests two Shell officials for oil theft in Rivers

    The Joint Task Force (JTF) has arrested two officials of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) in Rivers State for oil theft.

    Operatives of the JTF, codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, on Monday night arrested Bori Friday and Young Apahia at Kporgho-Ogoni in Gokana Local Government Area and handed them over to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    The suspects are Shell’s surveillance workers.

    Spokesman of the 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, Maj. Michael Etete, who doubles as JTF Sector 2 spokesman said the suspects were arrested at about 9:30pm.

    Etete said: “Troops of Sector 2, JTF Pulo Shield on patrol discovered an illegal connection on SPDC’s pipeline in Kporgho.

    “Two SPDC surveillance staff were found on the scene and were suspected to be responsible for the vandalism. The two suspects were arrested and transferred to NSCDC, Rivers State Command, for prosecution.

    “All oil companies are advised to weed out persons of questionable character in their employ.”

    He said JTF is committed to ending crude oil theft and illegal bunkering.

    Shell spokesman Mr. Precious Okolobo refused to comment on the arrest

     

  • JTF arrests two Shell workers for oil theft

     

    The Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta has arrested two employees of the Shell Petroleum Development Company for oil theft.

    Operatives of the JTF, codenamed Operation Pulo (Oil) Shield, on Monday night, apprehended Messrs. Bori Friday and Young Apahia, who were Shell’s surveillance staff, at Kporgho-Ogoni in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    The JTF has handed over the two staff to officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps for prosecution.

    The Public Relations Officer of the 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, Major Michael Etete, said the arrest took place at about 9:30pm on Monday.

    Etete said: “Troops of Sector 2, JTF Pulo Shield on patrol, discovered a pipe break and an illegal connection on SPDC’s pipeline in Kporgho, Gokana LGA of Rivers State.

    “Two SPDC surveillance workers were found at the scene and were suspected to be responsible for the vandalism. The two suspects were arrested and transferred to NSCDC, Rivers State Command, for prosecution.

    “All oil companies are advised to weed persons of questionable character in their employ.”

    The JTF’s spokesman also assured that the security outfit was committed to ending crude oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta.

     

  • JTF parades five suspected fraudsters in Yobe

    •Govt imposes curfew on four towns

     

    The Joint Task Force (JTF) on Yobe State security yesterday paraded five suspects for allegedly defrauding some residents with a promise to help them release their relaitions in JTF custody.

    Addressing reporters in Damaturu, the state capital, JTF spokesman Lt. Eli Lazarus said the suspects, who formed a syndicate, collected money from unwary people with relatives in the task force’s custody and promised to get their bail.

    He said some people were convinced that the suspects facilitated the release of such suspects as many of them in custody were coincidentally released.

    Lt. Lazarus said luck ran out on the suspects after one of their attempts failed and the family alerted the JTF.

    The military officer said this led to the arrest of members of the syndicate.

    Lt Lazarus urged the public to stop offering money for the release of suspects in JTF custody.

    He added: “JTF does not grant bail to anybody. We normally release people unconditionally after screening.”

    The Yobe State Government has re-imposed curfew on four major towns.

    In a statement in Damaturu, the state capital, by Abdullahi Bego, the Special Adviser on Information and Press Affairs to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, the government listed the towns as Damaturu, Gaidam, Gashua and Buni Yadi.

    The statement said the curfew is from 6pm to 7am daily, beginning from November 11.

    Lt Lazarus confirmed the imposition of the curfew, adding that it would enhance security.

     

  • ‘JTF winning war against oil theft, illegal bunkering’

    The Joint Task Force operating in the Niger Delta said it is recording successes in the war against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering in the region.

    The Commander of the 2 Brigade and Sector 2 of the JTF, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Buratai said this in Port Harcourt on Monday at the inauguration of six-block of component commanders’ residential quarters for senior officers of the task force.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the quarters were allocated to officers of the task force from the Navy, State Security Service, Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

    Buratai said the JTF, through its aggressive intelligence and commitment, had uncovered, arrested and prosecuted many illegal oil bunkering suspects and thieves in the Niger Delta.

    “Since our assumption of responsibility of the (JTF) Pulo Shield, we have made tremendous progress in the anti-bunkering, illegal bunkering, anti-piracy operations and sundry crimes, especially pipeline vandalism and oil theft.

    “The Brigade (Sector 2) has also moved into other directions in support of the civil police in anti-kidnappings, anti-armed robbery operations and we have made tremendous successes.

    “We want to assure the good people of Rivers and Bayelsa that we are up to the task and facing such challenges squarely,” he said.

    Buratai said the newly-built accommodations would improve the functionality of the component commanders as well as reduce hotel bills and security challenge faced by the officers.