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Tag: JTF

  • More traditional rulers will go if found backing banditry – Yari 

    Zamfara State Governor, Abdullaziz Yari on Monday said that more traditional rulers will be dethroned if found backing banditry activities in the state.

    Security of lives and properties have become a great challenge in the state in recent times following increased banditry activities.

    The governor had at the weekend dethroned seven traditional rulers in the state over the issue.

    Read Also:Osinbajo, Yari meet in Aso Rock

    Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Yari said “What we are trying to do is to kind of teach them a lesson because the problem we have in Zamfara State in the North-west is kind of a peculiar problem that some of the traditional rulers are supporting the banditry activities or taking advantage or taking money from them or having relationship that is very dangerous. To give you trust to manage people through tradition and then you are taking part, directly or indirectly, so that is not acceptable.”

    Asked how he was going to address the issue, he said “Anyone that we find wanting in this, definitely he must face punishment. And we are trying to use every avenue that we have to ensure that we fish out those that are within us – within the traditional rulers and outside.

    “That is why we hired intelligence; we hired the civilian JTF and all of them, so that they can help us by giving us the details.

    “For instance, we have about 2600 men and women that are working against these bandits but still it is not enough because of the terrain.

    “The terrain is not known to them, so we have employ sons of the soil that will lead the security agencies to their doorsteps and we have been getting very serious results to our advantage.”

    When asked if more traditional rulers will go if found wanting, the governor said “Of course! Absolutely! If you are talking about general public we are almost getting to 5 million and the total number of traditional rulers is about 300, so if we find any one! Anyone! Underline the word ‘anyone,’ found wanting, he would go!”

    On how many AK47 he has recovered, which he promised to pay N1 million each, he simply said “About ten”.

    Speaking on the purpose of his visit to the Vice President, he said “It is about the NEC, discussing of the good date for the NEC, because this is the end of the year and usually we used to have extended NEC and looking at who and who should be invited for the NEC, being the last year for the election.

    “That is what we discussed and we agreed that the NEC is going to be held on Friday, December 14. The NEC is to discuss the economy and to review the performance of the economy from January 2018 to date.

    Asked if he was doing anything about the report that Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun and Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha’s preferred candidates defecting to other parties, he said “If you want to discuss politics, you can go to party secretariat.”

    On the call for the declaration of a state of emergency in Zamfara state following the killings of policemen in the state, he said “Are there no killing of security officers anywhere else in Nigeria, except Zamfara? Why shouldn’t they call for that in the other places?”

     

  • JTF forcing us to sign oil spill report, says community

    Community leaders in Aghoro, Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, yesterday accused the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS), of intimidation.

    The leaders said their representatives in the panel investigating an oil spill in their community were being coerced by JTF to sign a report in favour of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

    It was gathered JTF’s alleged meddlesomeness stalled release of the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) report of the incident, which occurred from the Trans Ramos Pipeline within Shell’s oilfield at Aghoro communities.

    The JTF in Niger Delta, and SPDC, however, yesterday denied the allegations.

    Chairman, Community Development Committee of Aghoro 1, Mr. Victor Akamu, alleged JTF showed its bias when it resorted to force and intimidation.

    Akamu said JTF summoned the community leadership to Yenagoa on August 23 and forced it to sign the JIV report in favour of SPDC.

    But he said the community leaders refused despite the harassment.  He said the team from Aghoro were labelled vandals and profiled into the database of the security agency.

    “We were taken to a room where detailed profiles of us were taken including our finger prints, biometric details and our photographs.

    “We were temporarily held down for almost three hours profiling before we were eventually asked to go.

    “I wanted to ask; is it part of JTF’s job to force a community to sign a JIV Report?

    “Shell should stop using JTF to intimidate our community; for the past 20 years there has been no history of pipeline vandalism; this leak was due to a ruptured pipeline due to corrosion yet they call us vandals; it is unacceptable,” Akamu said.   SPDC’s Media Relations Manager Mr. Bamidele Odugbesan denied forcing its host communities to sign the JIV Report.

    He said: “Yes, there are issues with the JIV report; the representative of Aghoro 1 community did not agree with a portion of the JIV report but we have not used force; SPDC does not coerce parties to sign JIV reports”.

    Also, JTF’s Commander Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman  dismissed allegations of the intimidation, adding that the military intervenedinto the crisis to encourage both parties to adopt dialogue to resolve their differences to avert breach of peace.

    “We conduct our duties in compliance to our rules of engagement; we invited the parties to mediate and encourage them to dialogue and use the established channels of resolving conflicts.

    “I told them to resolve their differences on the negotiating table so that the operation is not disrupted, our mandate is to safeguard oil facilities and we do not want the disagreement to degenerate further”

  • Police on rampage in Maiduguri over unpaid allowances 

    Heavy protest from armed mobile policemen has engulfed Maiduguri, Borno State.

    According to available information the mobile policemen who are mostly on Special Duty working with the JTF are been owed seven months allowances.

    Our correspondent reports that the protest which is so far peaceful has already snowballed to major roads in the town with the protesting personale raining gunshots and tear gas in the air and blocking the roads.

    Read Also:32 killed, 84 injured in Maiduguri attack

    The police command in Borno State is yet to issue an official statement on the matter.

    Investigations however revealed that the protesting policemen are angry because the police authorities could not explain why their army counterpart on the same operations are been paid up to date but their case is different for seven months running.

     

    Details later…

  • Oil thieves sponsoring protest against JTF

    A coalition of peace advocacy groups yesterday said oil thieves and pipeline vandals were behind the ongoing protests against the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS) and its Commander, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi.

    The coalition under the auspices of the Niger Delta Peace and Development (NDPD) said it would soon identify the suspected oil thieves behind the Abuja protest.

    The coalition insisted that the protesters were misrepresenting the existing peace and laudable performances of JTF in the region.

    The group in a statement signed by its Chairman, James Julius, said oil thieves were using the protest to fight back and make the JTF lose its focus.

    Julius urged the people and military authorities to disregard the protests and lauded the JTF for restoring, sustaining peace and reducing criminality in the region.

    He called on security agencies to investigate persons, who led the protest adding that Apochi-led JTF reduced attacks on pipelines to its barest minimum.

    He said: “The existing peace in the region was due to the efforts of the military. The activities of JTF brought the recent renewed agitation and attacks on oil infrastructure under control.

    “The present Commander of JTF, Rear-Admr, Suleman has been achieving results and has proved to be a round peg in a round hole; his deployment at a time there was renewed restiveness was apt and strategic..

    “The military high command got it right and Suleiman, being an operational officer who spends most of his time in the creeks, has brought his naval tactics to check militancy. For eight months, there has been no reported incident in the region”.

    He appealed to the Niger Delta people to resist the temptation of becoming a tool of blackmail and accessory to oil theft.

    He asked all stakeholders to support the peace moves of the Federal Government aimed at repositioning the region as the oil and gas hub of the nation, noting that insecurity scared investors.

    According to the group, there is need to launder the image of the Niger Delta region and change the perception of international investors that fled the region as a result of militancy.

    Julius said: “Under his (Apochi) watch the Operation Delta Safe has uncovered an illegal arms manufacturing factory in Arhavwarien , Ughelli area of Delta State and recovered assorted weapons which including 28 guns, cartridges and military equipment.

    “This was following an intelligence report of an arms manufacturing gang in the area  which was supplying deadly ammunition to cultists, pirates , militants, armed robbers , among other criminals.”

    “We have to know that the future of the region is under the present administration, which has demonstrated the will to develop the Niger Delta.

    “Our people who engage in armed struggle must see that we cannot achieve anything by violence; we need to lure investor who once operated here, that the investment climate is right for them to return.”

    “Available data showed that since enhanced military operations began in the region in 2016, troops of the Operation  Delta Safe, have recovered 1,389 heavy arms and 20,352 ammunitions”

    “Additionally, the Force has seized 105 tanker trucks, 228 other vehicles and 610 pumping machines as well as 76 Generator sets and 5,842 other items used in facilitating illegalities.

    “Suffice to state that part of the Force efforts to deny criminals any freedom of action involves the destruction of their safe havens and the items used in perpetrating illegalities”

     

     

  • IPOB threat to Ohaneze: JTF begins show of force in Anambra

    The Joint Task Force (JTF) has begun a show of force in Anambra State following threats to disrupt the Igbo summit organised by apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation Ohaneze by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    However, Biafra Reformation Movement (BRM) has threatened to disown IPOB if it fails to withdraw its plan to attack Ohaneze at the summit holding tomorrrow at the Dr Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka.

    State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr. Haruna Mohammed, told our correspondent the command was ready for anybody or group in any form.

    The Superintendent of Police said the show of force by the JTF had already been in place with more men deployed in all the strategic places in the state.

    Our correspondent yesterday counted over 13 security pick up vans loaded with security operatives from the Police, Army, Navy and paramilitary outfits such as Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Civil Defence among others parading the nooks and cranny of Awka.

    Leader of BRM, Ndubuisi Igwekani, told our correspondent that the Biafra family would disown IPOB if it fails to soft pedal on its stance against the Ohaneze summit.

    He said IPOB should know there was a trap against the Igbo struggle, adding no right thinking Igbo person should plan to disrupt the summit.

    However, he said the focal point of Viagra movements should be how to actualise the May 30 celebrations of all the Biafran heroes, not disruption of the summit.

    “We warn IPOB to withdraw its threat against Ohaneze because it will not be in the interest of our struggle,” he stressed.

    He maintained it would be stupid of any Igbo group to give the Federal Government an opportunity to attack Ndigbo again, adding he decided to keep quiet for a long time because Raph Uwazuruike messed up Biafran movement.

    Leader of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign of Biafra (MASSOB) Uchenna Madu, told our correspondent that attacking Ohaneze was not the right thing to do by any one or group.

    Meanwhile the threat had heightened tension in Anambra State with residents expressing apprehension ahead of the summit.

    But despite warnings from security and Biafran bodies, IPOB’s media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful insisted the group would not be cowed or intimidated.

     

  • JTF recovers 1,389 arms, destroys 1,437 illegal refineries

    The Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Delta Safe (ODS) yesterday said it recovered 1,389 different types of arms and 20,352  ammunition from militants in Niger Delta.

    Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.Gen. John Agim and Deputy Commander, Brig.Gen. Kelvin Aligbe, who spoke in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, said the weapons were recovered at a mop up of arms.

    Agim said the arms mop-up was initiated to restore law and order, adding that troops destroyed 1,437 illegal refineries and 795 wooden cargo boats.

    According to him, in separate operations, troops destroyed 3,872 metal surface tanks, 1,019 plastic tanks, 13,129 drums and 13,343 jerry cans containing illegally refined petroleum products.

    He said: “It is instructive to add that the introduction of the use of swamp buggy in the JTF’s anti-illegal refining operations has significantly degraded the capacity of illegal refinery operators to revamp destroyed illegal refineries.

    “However, individuals are discouraged from indulging in illegal refining and bunkering of crude products as this has huge implication in undermining and destroying the ecosystem”.

    Agim noted that since activation of the outfit in 2017 1,846 suspects were arrested for criminal activities.

    “A large percentage of these suspects have been transferred to prosecuting agencies. The force has also made efforts to target the arrest of high-profile elements and criminal kingpins, thus reducing the freedom of action they erstwhile exploited”, he said.

    The director said the outfit seized and impounded 24 vessels, 191 barges, 234 outboard engines and 476 other types of passenger boats used to facilitate economic crimes in the region.

    He said its efforts reduced incessant destruction and sabotage of oil facilities, which resulted in drop in crude oil production.

    Besides reducing oil production output from 2.2 million barrel per day to 900,000, he recalled that attacks on gas pipelines affected power generation capacity..

    “It is gratifying to note that as at date, the production levels are averaging about 2.5 million barrel per day. Indeed, the NNPC management recently affirmed that pipeline vandalism had dropped significantly.

    “These tangible successes have further spurred the task force to improve on this standard to drastically reduce breaches on oil infrastructure. The force has made efforts to clear the area of identified militant camps whose activities have threatened national security”, he said.

    According to him recently troops of the outfit successfully conducted a covert operation with Special Forces to neutralise activities of the Bakassi Strike Force (BSF).

    Giving further insight, he said: “A high profile militant leader of the Bakassi Strike Force alias G1 had continued to pose transnational threat in Cameroun and other coastal territory of Bakassi, Ikang and environs in Nigeria.”

  • Arrested militant leader killed in ambush – JTF

    Arrested militant leader killed in ambush – JTF

    The Joint Task Force ( JTF ), Operation Delta Safe (ODS), on Friday confirmed that a militant leader in its custody, Oyawerikumor Peregbabofa, popularly known in the creeks of the Niger Delta as Karaowei, was later killed in an ambush.

    JTF’s Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC), Maj. Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the militant, who was apprehended on Thursday, was killed in an ambush laid by his fighters to rescue him.

    Abdullahi in a statement said: “After his arrest, Mr. Karowei confessed to several criminal acts and led troops to his camp to recover the cache of arms and ammunitions in his possession as well as to persuade other members of his gang to surrender.

    “However, in a twist of events, Karowei’s recalcitrant group laid an ambush and attacked the Task Force troops in a gun battle at his camp deep in the forest.

    “This was in a bid to rescue Karowei from own troops. The superior firepower, resilience and gallantry of own troops countered this snap attack which resulted in the death of several of Karowei’s henchmen and the kingpin, Karowei who tried to rejoin his cohorts.”

    The statement further listed the atrocities committed by the deceased militant leader, saying the Commander, ODS, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi, commended the Burutu and Ekeremor communities in Delta and Bayelsa States for their cooperation during the operation.

    It added: “This operation was aimed at tackling the security challenges posed to safety of lives and critical oil and gas facilities in the region. Consequently, a seven-day clearance operation was initiated by the Commander of JTF, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman, to sanitize the region of militants, cultists, sea robbers, kidnappers and other criminals.

    “During the operation, precisely on Thursday, 11 January 2018, a notorious militant leader Peregbakumo Oyawerikumo also known as ‘Karowei’ and his criminal gang were arrested.

    “It could be recalled that Mr. Karowei and his criminal gang abducted four British Missionaries on 13th October 2017 in Burutu local government area of Delta State which led to the unfortunate death of one of the Britons, Late Mr. Ian Squire.

    “Karowei and his gang were also responsible for several abductions/kidnappings, robberies and raping of innocent women in the region including unprovoked attacks on military locations in Delta and Bayelsa States.

    “Also on 7th January 2018, Karowei and his gang attacked own troops at Bolu Ndoro forest which led to the death of four military OPDS personnel.

    “The Commander, Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman, deeply appreciates the support of the locals within communities in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State and Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in finally uprooting this notorious criminal, who in conjunction with his gang had constituted serious security menace around the general area.

    “The Commander Joint Task Force also wishes to seek additional selfless support from law abiding citizens to uproot all criminals causing mayhem within the Niger Delta.

    “He urges all to go about their legitimate businesses as the waterways are now safe and secure. Furthermore he assures the local communities of the Task Force’s commitments to stem all criminalities in the Niger Delta in line with the mandate of the Chief of Defence Staff as well as strategic expectations of the Joint Task Force.”

  • Troops destroy Boko Haram grain market in Borno

    Troops destroy Boko Haram grain market in Borno

    The Nigerian Army on Saturday said it’s troops destroyed a Boko Haram grain market at Boboshe village in Borno.

    Director Army Public Relations Sani Kukasheka, who disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri, said this was part of efforts by the armed forces to degrade the remnants of the insurgents.

    Kukasheka said that the troops discovered a make shift night market at Boboshe village set up by the insurgents with newly harvested farm produce on display for sale.

    He said that the troops conducted clearance operations in seven villages, rescued five persons and recovered three vehicles, four Dane guns, a dummy gun and mattresses.

    “Troops of 112 Task Force Battalion and Mobile Strike Teams of 22 Brigade of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) on Friday, carried out clearance operations at Gawa, Bone, Kajeri I, Kajeri II, Kube, Dubula, Boboshe I and Boboshe II villages in Borno State.

    “During the operation, the gallant troops discovered that the terrorists had erected a make-shift night market at Boboshe village with newly harvested farm produce on display for sale.

    “After conducting a thorough search of the vicinity, the troops recovered three Isuzu vehicles, four Dane guns, one Dummy gun, suspected to be used for training of inducted Boko Haram terrorists and mattresses hidden under shrubs.”

    Kukasheka explained that troops rescued five persons abducted by the insurgents at Boboshe 1 and Dubula villages.

    He reiterated the commitment of the military to root out the remnants of Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.

    Kukasheka called on members of the public to provide useful information to security agencies in the ongoing clearance operations in the region.

  • Tompolo speaks from hiding, says: ‘JTF will pay for my father’s death’

    Tompolo speaks from hiding, says: ‘JTF will pay for my father’s death’

    Niger Delta activist and founder of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) has vowed to make soldiers pay for the death of his father, Chief Thomas Osen Ekpemupolo one year ago.

    Speaking on the first year anniversary of the death of the late Thomas, Tompolo said descendants of the late patriarch would not rest until the masterminds of his death are found and held accountable.

    Tompolo, who is on the run over alleged N13billion fraud, though said that the search for justice would be prosecuted through legal means.

    He said, “As we mourn and remember our late patriarch, we will seek justice to apprehend and hold accountable the very soldiers responsible for his murder so that he can finally rest in peace and we his descendants can be fulfilled.

    “I will also not be deterred by persecution and state act of terror against my person and communities in Ijaw land in the quest for the emancipation of our land and people,” he vowed.

    It would be recalled that father of the former militant leader died from injuries he sustained when soldiers invaded Gbaramatu clan in Warri Southwest local government area of Delta State in September 2016.

    The octogenarian, who was allegedly brutalised by rampaging soldiers, later died in a private hospital in Warri, after his limbs were amputated in a desperate bid to save his life.

    While using the incident as reference, Tompolo who is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged looting of NIMASA fund, lamented his ‘persecution’.

    He said “I have been marked as state enemy number one by the President Muhammadu Buhari regime because of my natural and open association with my kinsman and former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.”

    Ekpemupolo also traced his ordeal to his support for Governor Seriake Dickson in the 2016 Bayelsa State Gubernatorial election presumed as against the anointed APC candidate of the Federal Government, Chief Timipre Sylva.

    He denied involvement in destructive operation by the militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, stressing,“In an orchestrated plot the Nigerian Army was unleashed on Gbaramatu Kingdom in search of me, and the rampaging soldiers stormed my father’s home in Kurutie Town, physically brutalised him to the point of death.

    “He sustained injuries in one of his legs and due to lack of medical facilities in the area he could not be treated and could also not be timely evacuated because of the siege and blockade by the Nigerian Army.’

    Besides, Tompolo accused the Nigerian Navy of looting his waterfront properties, jetties and other valuable, stressing that items worth over N10bn were looted by men of the Nigerian armed forces.

    “In the last taken inventory of my facility, there was over 10 billon naira worth of building and other materials in the Jetty, but information reaching me now has it that the Jetty has been stripped bare by service personnel of the Joint Task Force [JTF].

    “Some of the materials presumably have been taken to Northern Nigeria. How could this happen under your watch? As rightly observed by other well-meaning Nigerians, let me echo their thoughts by asking ‘where is the much touted anti-corruption crusade?

    “The problem of environmental despoliation and degradation and issues of political, economic and social injustice and inequalities arising out of the oil and gas explorations aided by the policies of the Federal Government of Nigeria still looms larger by the day. Intimidation and threat is now employed to cow Niger Deltans in the place of engagement and positive tangibles,” he alleged.

  • JTF commander, top military officers escape death in Cross River

    JTF commander, top military officers escape death in Cross River

    The Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS), Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi, and other top military officers have escaped drowning in the rivers of Ikang, Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Cross River State.
    Apochi and other sector commanders of ODS cheated death when they fell into the Ikang River according to a statement signed by the Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC), Maj. Ibrahim Abdullahi.
    But some of them were said to have sustained minor injuries and were given medical treatment.
    The statement named others who fell into the river as the Commander, Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) Victory, Commodore Sali Jubrin, ODS sector commanders, Commander Sector 4 and other senior officers and soldiers.
    It was gathered that the officers found themselves in the river when the Ikang jetty collapsed at about 10am on Tuesday.
    They were said to be on tour of the area as part of Operation Safety Check (3), designed to assess troops’ deployment and activities at various locations across the Niger Delta region.
    The statement said: “The Commander OPDS, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman, Commander Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) Victory, Operation Delta Safe Component Commanders, Commander Sector 4 along with other Senior Officers and soldiers, all fell into Ikang River as a result of the complete collapse of the Jetty at Ikang at about 10:00am.
    “However, as a result of the survival capability of the Officers and Men, all personnel, weapons and other equipment were recovered with slight injuries to some personnel which have been treated.
    “The team has retired back to Calabar to re-strategise and go ahead with the planned patrol and inspection”.