The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Militants

  • Troops storm militants’ den, foil attack on more facilities

    Troops storm militants’ den, foil attack on more facilities

    A combined military task force on Sunday launched a manhunt for Chief Government Ekpemupolo (also known as Tompolo), his associates and other believed to be masterminds of attacks on crude production and export from the Warri area of Delta State.

    It was gathered that at least one suspect was arrested in connection with the attacks.

    The gang had hit major gas and crude oil trunk lines, including the major Escravos-Warri-Lagos-Abuja gas trunk line of the Nigerian Gas Company and several platforms of oil multinationals operating in the region.

    Plans to hit more oil facilities, including the Opumami location of Con Oil Limited, on Sunday morning were foiled by the security operatives.

    The latest violence in the region began after a Federal High Court issued an arrest order on Tompolo who failed to appear in court for trial on a N34bn fraud.

  • NIGER DELTA MILITANTS ATTACK MORE OIL FACILITIES

    NIGER DELTA MILITANTS ATTACK MORE OIL FACILITIES

    •Chevron may shut down operations
    •Ex-militants regroup, move into creeks

    The Niger Delta region moved closer to armed hostilities yesterday following more attacks on oil facilities by youths believed to be supporters  of  ex-militant Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo).

    The latest attacks were launched with General Purpose Machine-guns (GPMG) by youths in several boats.

    They were apparently reacting to last Thursday’s order by a Federal High Court for the arrest of Tompolo in connection with an alleged N34billion fraud.

    Residents of the riverside communities said the militants paraded weapons more in number and sophistication than those used in previous crises.

    Oil and gas pipelines in the creeks of Gbaramatu and Ugborodo areas of Warri South West and those in Egbema, North local government areas respectively of Delta state were struck in yesterday’s attacks.

    “The gas pipeline, which runs from Olero creeks to Escravos were destroyed in the latest attack. Several crude lines were sabotaged while Makaraba, Otunana (Uton-Nana), Abiteye and Dibi flow stations were bombed,” one source said.

    “The pipeline, which conveys gas from Saghara to Chevron, was also destroyed and there are several persons trapped in the communities. “The kind of explosives and bombs they used are not like those of before; the effects were felt in several communities as they went off intermittently.”

    The facilities destroyed included those of the Nigerian Gas Company, Chevron NIGERIA Limited and NECONDE among others.

    It was learnt that the attacks could spread to Bayelsa and other states of the region within days, as the perpetrators plan to cripple crude oil production and export.

    There were indications that some operations of Chevron Nigeria were disrupted in the latest attacks.

    The company was forced to airlift its workers on Friday after militants blocked the waterways and restricted movement of transport boats, including Chevron’s Jascon transport boat.

    Although the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta was said to be fully prepared to deal with the onslaughts, the militants operated unhindered for several hours yesterday.

    It was gathered that the attacks started in the wee hours of the day.

    “The sheer force of the explosion shook several communities and there were several explosions. There is panic everywhere and the waterways have again been taken over by armed gangs.”

    The Joint Media Campaign Centre Coordinator of the JTF, Col Isa Ado, could not be reached.

    Telephone calls and SMS to his mobile lines were not answered. Tompolo said on Friday that he was not responsible for the first attacks.

    However, security sources insisted that he is directly controlling the operation along with some of his close allies and his nephew who reportedly led the destruction of oil facilities in Warri North LGA yesterday.

    Sources said dozens of former militants had returned to the creeks of Warri  in what is believed to be preparation for more onslaughts on oil facilities, security operatives and communities.

    Similarly, it was learnt that sophisticated arms and ammunition were deployed.

    A source familiar with the terrain said: “Boats are freely moving in and out of (an Ijaw community) with guns and other weapons.   “Boys are coming in from all over the region and they are being given their assignments and directives.  “There is a stockpile of arms and petrol and boats are being fueled intermittently.

    “This is not an ordinary operation, it is well planned and there seems to be several options and alternative plans.”

    Residents of the riverside communities, comprising mostly women and children continued the flight for safety in upland communities like Warri, Sapele and Ogbe-Ijoh, among others.  Some of the fleeing locals lamented that although they did not benefit from the largesse from militancy, they are made to face its consequences always.

    “We are tired of running like this always. In 2009, it was because of the killing of soldiers. Today, it is because of Tompolo and EFCC.

    We didn’t benefit from the NIMASA money, there were individuals who got billions, others millions but how much did we get? Nothing! Yet we are the ones who are always the victims,” a middle-aged woman lamented in smattering English.

    Similarly, it was gathered that some Gbaramatu leaders have called Tompolo to caution him about the implications of engaging in a full blown war with federal forces.

    It was gathered that at least 10 very high- ranking traditional titleholders have distanced themselves from the attacks.

    “Most of our leaders are too afraid to speak out while others cannot talk because they are benefiting one way or the other,” a youth leader told our reporter on condition that he would not be named.

  • Full scale war brew in N’Delta as militants attack more facilities

    Full scale war brew in N’Delta as militants attack more facilities

    The Niger Delta region was on the verge of full scale war on Saturday after unrestrained attacks on oil facilities by armed youths believed to be loyalists of leader of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo).

    It was gathered that Saturday’s attacks were carried out in fast boats fitted with General Purpose Machine-gun (GPMG) and several frigates carrying heavily armed youths.

    Residents of the riverside communities said the militants paraded weapons more in numbers and sophistication than those used in previous crisis.

    Oil and gas pipelines in the creeks of Gbaramatu and Ugborodo areas of Warri South West and those in Egbema, North local government areas respectively of Delta state were affected in Saturday’s attacks.

    A source said, “The gas pipeline which from Olero creeks to Escravos were destroyed in the latest attack. Several crude lines were sabotaged while Makaraba, Otunana (Uton-Nana), Abiteye and Dibi flow stations were bomb.

    “The pipeline, which conveys gas from Saghara to Chevron was also destroyed and there are several persons trapped in the communities.

    “The kind of explosives and bombs they used are not like those of before; the effects were felt in several communities as they went off intermittently,” a local source told our reporter.

    The facilities destroyed included those of the Nigerian Gas Company, Chevron NIGERIA Limited and NECONDE among others.

    Our reporter learnt that the attacks could spread to Bayelsa and other states of the region within days, as the perpetrators plan to cripple crude oil production and export.

    There were indications that some operations of CNL were disrupted by the latest attacks.

    The company was forced to airlift its workers on Friday after militants blocked the waterways and restricted movement of transport boats, including Chevron’s Jascon transport boat.

    Although the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta was said to be fully prepared to deal with the onslaughts, the militants operated unhindered for several hours on Saturday.

    It was gathered that the attacks started in the wee hours of Saturday and lasted for several hours.

    “The sheer force of the explosion shook several communities and there were several explosions. There is panic everywhere and the waterways have again been taken over by armed gangs.”

    The Joint Media Campaign Centre Coordinator of the JTF, Col Isa Ado, was incommunicado since the onslaught began; dozens of telephone calls and SMS to his mobile line were answered.

    The incident came after Saturday’s attack on a strategic gas trunk line around Warri River on Friday morning, barely10hours after a Federal High Court ordered the arrest of Tompolo in connection with an ongoing N34billion fraud case at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    Although Tompolo had disowned the latest insurgence, security sources insisted that he is directly controlling the operation along with some of his close allies and his nephew who reportedly led the destruction of oil facilities in Warri North LGA on Saturday morning.

    At the time of this report, it was gathered that several former militants had returned to the creeks of Warri, in what is believed to be preparation for a major onslaught on oil facilities, security operatives and communities.

    Similarly, it was learnt that bunkers housing sophisticated arms and ammunition are being unearthed and deployed.

    A source said, “Boats are freely moving in and out of (an Ijaw community) with guns and other weapons. Boys are coming in from all over the region and they are being given their assignments and directives.

    “There is a stockpile of arms and petrol and boats are being fueled intermittently. This is not an ordinary operation, it is well planned and there seems to be several options and alternative plans,” one of the sources who fled the town, said.

    Conversely, as the militants are moving into the creeks, panicky inhabitants of the riverside communities, comprising mostly women and children continued the flight for safety in upland communities like Warri, Sapele and Ogbe-Ijoh, among others.

    Some of the fleeing locals were unhappy about their fates, with some lamenting that although they did not benefit from the largess from militancy they are made to face its consequences always.

    “We are tired of running like this always. In 2009, it was because of the killing of soldiers, today it is because of Tompolo and EFCC. We didn’t benefit from the NiIMASA money, there were individuals who got billions, others millions but how much did we get? Nothing! Yet we are the ones who are always the victims,” a middle-aged woman lamented in smattering English.

    Similarly, it was gathered that some Gbaramatu leaders have called Tompolo to caution him about the implications of engaging in a full blown war with federal forces.

    It was gathered that at least 10 very high ranking traditional titleholders have distance themselves from the attacks.

    “Most of our leaders are too afraid to speak out, while others cannot talk because they are benefiting one way or the other,” a youth leader told our reporter on condition that he would not be named.

  • Tompolo: Militants hit major oil/gas pipelines

    Tompolo: Militants hit major oil/gas pipelines

    Chevron Nigeria Limited and other oil companies in the riverside areas of Delta state are shutting down their operations on Saturday after after another wanton destruction of oil facilities crippled a large portion of production.

    It was gathered that the major crude and gas line to the Chevron Tank Farm in Escravos were hit over night by militants in the wake of Government Ekpemupolo’s face-off with the EFCC.

    Although Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) denied responsibility for the earlier attack on Friday morning, source in the area and security operatives believe that he is masterminding the attacks.

    The attack started hours after an arrest order was issued on him by a Federal High Court.

    It was gathered that major assets of Chevron and other indigenous oil firms in the area were hit in the overnight attacks.

    Our reporter learnt that the gas line from Olero creeks to Escravos were hit.

    The main crude line from Makaraba through Otunana, Abiteye and others were also reportedly put out of operation by the hoodlums.

    As at the time of this report on Saturday morning, it could not be ascertained if the fire that erupted at Odidi pipeline after Friday morning attack had been extinguished.

  • Army arrests soldier training militants in Rivers

    •12 others held •Illegal arms seized •11 killed in shoot-out

    A soldier (names withheld), who specialises in training Niger Delta militants, has been arrested in Rivers State by the Army. He was arrested with 12 others; the illegal arms and ammunition were seized.

    The discovery and arrests were made yesterday during the mop-up operation in Kula in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area.

    Some of the arms and ammunition were moved by the militants before the arrival of the troops at the Kalabari community.

    The 12 suspects, including the arms and ammunition, were handed over to the state headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) for investigation and prosecution.

    The Commanding Officer of 2 Brigade Lt.-Col. Timothy Opurum spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt.

    Opurum said the soldier, who deserted the Army in 2002, was a member of 13-man gang that had terrorised many communities in the state.

    The commanding officer said: “Based on intelligence reports, we carried out a sting operation, where we captured a 13-man militant gang, including its notorious leader, Kenneth.

    “We also arrested a soldier, who deserted the Army in 2002 and specialised in training militants in weapons’ handling and operational tactics.

    “The soldier, who is a Private, joined the Army in 1998 and served in the 331 Artillery Regiment, Kalapanzi Barracks in Kaduna, before he was declared missing in 2002.

    “The soldier, who is related to the leader of the militant group, is in our custody and will be released to prosecuting agencies, after formal dismissal from the Nigerian Army.”

    Opurum, who described the operation as “highly successful,” said the troops raided the community on account of incessant  militancy, kidnapping, sea piracy, cultism, pipeline vandalism and killings.

    He noted that reports showed that the community was not only serving as a hideout for criminals, but as a  warehouse for arms and ammunition.

    The commanding officer, who led the operation, denied the allegation that troops opened fire on innocent fishermen, traders and destroyed their wares, adding that no innocent civilian was assaulted during the operation.

    The traditional ruler of Opu-Kula, King Hope Opusingi, earlier alleged that soldiers battered his people and destroyed property worth millions of naira.

    The monarch insisted that the raid by the soldiers was an abuse of power and a gross violation of the rights of his people.

    Eight suspected kidnappers and three robbery suspects were killed in a shootout with men of the state police command,  Commissioner of Police Musa Kimo has said.

    Kimo, who spoke at a news conference yesterday in Port Harcourt, said six robbery suspects were arrested in the state between September 8 and 22.

    He said seven suspected kidnappers were arrested, while six kidnapped persons were rescued.

    Kimo added that six suspected cultists were arrested and 32 firearms recovered from criminal gangs.

    He said the firearms, included three AK 47 assault rifles, 11 pump action guns, 10 locally-made pistols, three double barrel guns and three single barrel guns as well as 101 assorted ammunition and nine vehicles.

    Kimo said some of the vehicles included BMW X 5 J, Toyota Lexus saloon, Toyota Corolla and Nissan Xterra, among others.

    He attributed the achievements to proactive measures and professionalism displayed by officers and men of the command, warning criminals to desist from their acts or be prepared to face the law.

     

  • Pakistan deploys first homemade drone

    Pakistani military said on Monday in Islamabad that a missile-firing Pakistani drone had killed at least three suspected militants.

    Maj.-Gen. Asim Bajwa, Military Chief spokesman, said this was the first ever reported use of the indigenously developed aircraft in combat.

    He said the “Burraq” drone attacked a suspected militant hideout in the Shawal Valley, which had long been a militant stronghold on the border with Afghanistan.

    Bajwa said the drone that hit a terrorist compound in Shawal valley killed three high profile terrorists.

    “Militants in the area identified one of the three people killed in the Sunday night strike as Nizam Wazir, a faction leader allied with the Pakistani Taliban.

    The militants said that Wazir would be buried on Monday.

    Government forces launched an offensive against Pakistani Taliban militants, in semi-autonomous ethnic Pashtun regions along the Afghan border last year.

    The chief spokesman noted that the military expanded the offensive into the Shawal Valley last month with the use of both ground troops and aircraft.

    The government has for years denounced US drone strikes in Pakistan as a violation of sovereignty.

    The independent London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism, which monitors strikes, noted that US drones have killed more than 2,400 people in Pakistan since 2004.

    Pakistan first successfully tested the Burraq drone in March with the military hailing it as “a force multiplier in the anti-terror campaign”.

    The military deployed two Pakistani-produced unarmed surveillance drones in 2013. Analysts say Pakistan’s drones look very much like drones from Pakistan’s close ally, China.

  • JTF raids militant camp in Delta, seize arms, ammunition

    Security operatives of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, ‘Operation Pulo Shield’ in the early hours of Saturday sacked and seized a militant camp in Beniboye, Burutu local government area of Delta state.
    Although details of the operation were still sketchy at press time, it was gathered that a huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the fighters.
    Residents of nearby Odimodi community said the military encountered stiff resistance from the militant group identified as Red Beret, who were reportedly mobilising with fighters from nearby Rivers and Bayelsa states to attack the community.
    “There were sporadic shooting and heavy explosions during the operation that lasted well over four hours,” one source told our reporter.
    It would be recalled that armed gang from the camp recently overran Odimodi community.
    There were also concerns that the activities of the gang was threatening the peace and security of communities in the area and the operations of Shell Petroleum Development Company’s Forcados crude export terminal.
    JTF’s Joint Media Campaign Coordinator, Lt Colonel Isa Ado, who was contacted by our reporter, could neither confirm nor deny the report.
    While saying he wasn’t aware of the details of the operation, Lt Col Ado promised to give details, if there was indeed any operation in the area.
    However, a usually reliable source who is conversant with the operation, said it started at about 2am on Saturday and lasted till around 6am when the recalcitrant gang members were over powered.
    The interim chairman of Odimodi Community, Chief Elex Pukon, whose house was among several ravaged in an attack on the community on Monday, confirmed the report.
    He fingered some disgruntled members of the community as sponsors of the gang alleged led by one Sanomon.

  • Millions lost as militants hit community

    •Homes razed

    Armed militants yesterday attacked Odimodi community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

    They destroyed several homes and other property worth millions of naira.

    The casualty figure, if any, was unkown at last night.

    But it was gathered that some of the embattled residents of the oil-rich community, who ran into the bush, had not returned.

    The homes of the interim chairman of the local government, Chief Alex Pukon, and another community leader, Chief Sunny Gbegha, were among the five the hoodlums reportedly torched.

    The attackers were believed to be members of a gang, the Red Beret.

    Gbegha, who confirmed the report in a telephone chat with our reporter, accused a key player in the community’s leadership crisis as the mastermind of the attack.

    A terse short messaging service (SMS) from Gbegha sent to our reporter at 3:03am, reads: “Militants, led by (the suspected mastermind) just burnt my house and Chief Alex Pukon’s house at Odimodi.”

    Some community leaders, who spoke in confidence, confirmed the report.

    They accused the military, especially the Navy at the nearby Forcados Crude Oil Export Terminal, of ignoring early warnings and the message sent by the community during the invasion.

    A highly respected leader of the community said: “When the shooting and burning started, we contacted the Commanding Officer (Lt.-Col. Bassey Ekong) of the Army (3 Battalion) but he said he could not take action without the governor giving directive.”

    Although the claim could not be independently verified, another source accused the Navy of compromise.

    The source alleged that top officials of the force were on the payroll of the mastermind of the attack.

    There was an uneasy calm in the community yesterday, following the deployment of soldiers in the area.

    The soldiers chased away the hoodlums, although it was not clear if security operatives made any arrest.

  • Pakistani forces kill 40 militants

    Pakistani forces kill 40 militants

    Pakistani fighter jets on Thursday killed 43 militants in North Waziristan tribal region where the security forces are battling the militants in rugged mountains, the army said.

    Aerial bombing has been increased in recent days and death toll of the militants has reached nearly 200 this week.

    “Twenty eight terrorists were killed in Gharlamai and 15 terrorists were killed in Shawal area in North Waziristan in precise aerial strikes,” the military said in a statement.

    The security forces have increased bombing of the militants’ positions following a suicide attack that killed Punjab Home Minister and 18 other people on Sunday.

    The military launched the long-anticipated major offensive in North Waziristan in June 2014 against the Pakistani Taliban, who are blamed for most of the attacks in Pakistan.

    Security officials say that nearly 2,900 militants have so far been killed and over 90 per cent areas cleared of the militants.

    The army chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif, who visited the region in July, said the operation code-named `Zarb-e-Abab’ is almost in its final stage.

    Security officials say that the fleeing militants are now hiding in the rugged mountains to avoid airstrikes.

    They say fighter jets are hitting the militants in hideouts to clear the remaining few areas, officials say.

    The military spokesman, Asim Bajwa, said in July that the forces have completed the first phase of the ground offensive in Shawal area.

    He said the second phase was being planned to take control of the remaining pockets of militants

  • Tompolo’s meeting: Police take over venue

    Tompolo’s meeting: Police take over venue

    A team of armed and riot policemen, on Saturday took over Izon Wari (Ijaw House), venue of the proposed controversial meeting of former commanders of the Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    The meeting which generated security concerns in the region and attracted condemnations from stakeholders was called by former militant commander, Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo.

    The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, advised the ex-militants to shelve the gathering and meet with him later on a separate day.

    Notable ex-militant commanders such as Victor Ebikabowei Ben fondly called Tompolo, Africanus Ukparasia famously called ‘General’Africa and others also condemned the proposed meeting and asked their supporters to stay away from the gathering.

    Africa specifically said: “We will not allow any individual to disrupt the peace and progress in the Niger Delta region in the name of ex-agitator. We warn against such attempts because we will resist and seriously deal with it”.

    Investigations revealed that the police deployed a detachment of armed security operatives within and around the Ijaw House, a building dedicated for activities aimed at promoting the Ijaw nation.

    A truckload of mobile policemen supported by five patrol vans of fully armed operatives were sent to the area.

    It was also observed that strategic junctions leading to the Sanni Abacha Expressway where the Ijaw House is located were manned by security men.

    As at 11am, the security operatives were seen monitoring the activities of motorists and commuters plying the area.

    But when The Nation returned to the area at 2pm, the the scheduled for the meeting to kick-off, there was no sign that the gathering would hold.

    The motive behind the deployment of policemen was unknown.