The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Militants

  • Itsekiri urge Fed Govt to deal with militants, sponsors 

    The Federal Government has been advised to be cautious of those parading themselves as Niger Delta stakeholders pressuring it to dialogue with them and those stoking the insurgency in the region.

    The Warri Study Group (WSG), an Itsekiri think-tank, in a position paper made available to the media in Warri yesterday, also urged the government to treat the rising insurgency as criminality, adding that the problem facing the region is purely of bad management of resources.

    The advice came against the backdrop of the deployment of heavy military hardware and personnel to Warri and other towns in the Niger Delta region last weekend.

    The paper, signed by the group’s chairman, Edward Ekpoko, and secretary, Tony Ede, which largely reacted to the Chief Edwin Clark-convened regional stakeholders’ meeting in Effurun, Delta State, alleged that those coming out now as leaders of the region, seeking dialogue to end the festering crisis, were the people who initiated the idea to set the region on fire, using the insurgents.

    It, however, discredited the conference as not, in any way, representative of the six coastal Niger Delta states it claimed to have drawn participants from, noting that more than 80% of those present were Ijaw. The visit to the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, by some traditional rulers from the region, was strictly an Ijaw affair, WSG said.

    The paper, which lamented the damage done to the economy by the activities of insurgents and the insecurity it has gradually foisted on the region, expressed surprise that the Clark-led conference failed to denounce the main insurgent group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) for bringing the situation about.

    ‘’It is an open fact that some of these elders and traditional rulers are acting the script of the militants and have only recruited and/or assembled some few innocent ones and/or those willing to be bought outside their ethnic nationalities to give it a semblance of a Niger Delta struggle for better life, conditions and infrastructure.

    ‘’We have sadly observed that the communiqué issued at the end of the stakeholders meeting by the so-called six Niger Delta coastal states, which was neither read nor generally agreed on at the meeting, raises more questions than answers, namely: It was signed by only Chief E. K. Clark and Prof. G. G. Darah – both of Delta State out of the so-called six Niger Delta coastal states.

    ‘’We condemn the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers and other militant groups in the Niger Delta. We call on the Federal Government to bring all perpetrators of the criminal activities to justice.

    ‘’Federal Government must separate acts of criminality from genuine efforts to develop the region. The problem of the Niger Delta is more of management of the resources allocated than anything else. Evidence abound. Inspite of the trillions of naira that have been provided to the Niger Delta Intervention agencies and ministries over the years, there is nothing on ground to show for it.

    ‘’Both the consultative meeting of the stakeholders of the six Niger Delta coastal states held on 19 August, 2016 and the Niger Delta monarchs group that met with the Minister of Petroleum Resources are all Ijaw-driven and not pan-Niger Delta. The rest of the Niger Delta, which is made up of the Ibibio, Edo, Urhobo, Ikwerre, Ogoni, Efik, Isoko, Ndokwa, Itsekiri, etc, should not be made to learn and discover that problem solving in the Region can only be through violence and aggression. Violence and aggression should be discouraged by every means.

    ‘’We encourage the Federal Government and the various states to indeed dialogue for a lasting solution to the Niger Delta problems, but with the right stakeholders, not those that are seeing the struggle as a money-making venture’’, the paper said.

  • Soyinka: I’m responding to militants’ overtures

    Soyinka: I’m responding to militants’ overtures

    Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka said yesterday he has been responding to overtures from militant groups.

    But he denied being part of any international coalition on the Niger Delta crisis.

    The eminent scholar said he has taken a stand keep secret the details of his recent visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja.

    Speaking yesterday at a news conference by the Wole Soyinka Foundation to announce the foundation’s partnership with a Lebanese institute to conduct an intensive course for international students, Soyinka said: “I had a meeting in London at the House of Lords, and the meeting was not about the main subject that took me to Aso Rock, which was among other things, the problem we have in the Delta. The meeting was reported in the media, and it was badly distorted.”

    He denounced the reports linking him with an international intervention group, which has been formed, and on behalf of which he was reported to have met with the President.

    He said: “How can a group which does even exist be holding a meeting with President Buhari? How can I, who just happened to be meeting with the President, say that both entities have met when one of them does not exist? In fact, I have taken a decision not to speak about the Delta situation publicly because I cannot spend my time correcting a falsehood I am not responsible for.

    “I was approached personally, and I have been responding personally to some of these groups just as I did when President Jonathan was in power and the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) was the umbrella group of the insurgents. At the moment, they feel that the government of President Buhari is not seriously responding to their outreach. I am not part of any international group, but I hope one gets formed and is active very soon.”

    According to him, the Wole Soyinka Foundation was taking steps towards exposing youthful minds to other cultures and civilisations through the Study Abroad In Lebanon (SAIL) programme.

    The SAIL programme is an initiative by CEDARS Institute, Notre Dame University, Lebanon, in conjunction with the Wole Soyinka Foundation. Four students have been nominated upon request from different institutions across the country. They will travel to Lebanon for the course.

    Dr Habib Jafaar, a Lebanese businessman who organised the Nigerians’ participation in the programme, described it as an interactive course that would take the students through such historical places like the Crusader Castle and Ba’albek in Lebanon.

    The selected students are Ibrahim Shuaibu from the Department of History and International Relations, Kwara State University; Zubair Lawal Bambale from the Department of Philosophy, Ahmadu Bello University; Ajayi Olumuyiwa, a Ph.D. student of Policy and Strategic Studies, Covenant University, Ota and Dare Shoyemi-Obawanle, studying Environmental Geology at the University of Jos.

  • Akiolu hails Air Force for dislodging militants

    Akiolu hails Air Force for dislodging militants

    Oba of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu has hailed the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for leading the offensive against militants, who held Lagos and Ogun communities hostage.

    Akiolu spoke when the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Sani Ahmed, visited his palace.

    According to Akiolu, the NAF has played vital roles in crime prevention, urging continuous cooperation among security agencies.

    Warning the militants to stay off Lagos territory, the monarch called for enthronement of security plan between Lagos and Ogun states.

    He advised the militants to seek alternative ways to channel their grievances.

    The AOC sued for cordial relationship between residents and NAF personnel.

    He urged Lagosians to avail security agencies useful information to prevent crimes.

    He noted the importance of the command’s role to military operations, adding that it was responsible for procuring, receiving, storing, distributing, transporting and sustaining NAF equipment.

    “There is virtually no military operation that can be successful without logistics as is evident in the ongoing operation AWATSE, which needed logistics for its success,” he said.

  • Okowa, Clark, others to Avengers: Cease hostilities now

    Okowa, Clark, others to Avengers: Cease hostilities now

     

    ……Niger Delta Elders agree on raising unified regional negotiation platform

     

    Niger Delta leaders rose Friday against the current spate of sabotage of oil and gas facilities by militants in the region and threat by them to pull the region out of the rest of Nigeria.

    The leaders including Chief Edwin Clark, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Timi Alaibe, Niger Delta activist, Tony Uranta, publisher of the Thisday newspaper, Chief Nduka Obaigbena,and  royal fathers, warned the militants to respect calls by traditional rulers, elders and leaders of the region for cessation of hostilities  forthwith.

    The leaders convened an emergency meeting in Warri, Delta State against the backdrop of the secession threat by the militants on Thursday.

    They asked agitators and aggrieved groups to “hearken to the appeal of the traditional rulers, elders and leaders of thought to stop further attack on oil and gas facilities and give room for dialogue.”

    But the meeting, hosted by Chief Clark, also urged the Federal Government to “stop further deployment of military hardware and resources in the region,” to ensure the confidence of the people and enhance opportunity for peace and order.

    In a communiqué at the end of the deliberation, the Niger Delta leaders charged the federal government to stop the deployment of the military to solve the crisis in the region, noting that it has so far inflicted untold hardship and dislocation on life and living of innocent people.

    Government, they added, should take calls for the restructuring of the nation as the first step in healing the country.

    They resolved to establish a pan-Niger Delta Platform to “speak for and negotiate on behalf of the region. The meeting further resolved to set up the said platform with effect from Friday 19th August, 2016.

    “Any platform for dialogue and negotiation should be all-embracing, involving all the ethnic nationalities and interest groups in the region to holistically address the problems.

    “The meeting also resolved to support the popular demand for the restructuring of the Nation’s political system as recommended by the 2014 National Conference. The practice of equitable fiscal federalism is a precondition for sustainable peace and development of our Country.

    “Without prejudice to efforts made so far, the Federal Government should demonstrate seriousness by reaching out to the authentic representatives of the region to discuss peace and the way forward.”

    Addressing participants earlier, Governor Okowa charged leaders of the Niger Delta to take up the challenge of stopping the degradation of the region’s environment by prevailing on their angry sons to desist from attacks on oil and gas facilities.

    Okowa, who was the only state governor to attend the meeting in person, noted that though expressing grievances over perceived injustice was not out of place, doing more damage than what causes the anger is absurd.

    The governor, who also charged the leaders of the region to ensure that the region has a credible face to represent it when approaching the federal government to register the discontent of their people, said violent protest, would only rob the people of the region the desired development.

    “Agitation is very important, yes you may be making a point, and we have been crying that the oil companies have been destroying our land over time.  They have harmed our land, harmed our water and things are getting very bad but unfortunately we are even taking actions that destroy the land and destroy our water far more than what the oil companies are doing. These are things that the people may not understand that in anger we have done more than what the oil companies have done.

    “Our traditional rulers and our leaders should let the youths know that they should stop violence, with a firm assurance that the elders will speak for us; we know that fiscal federalism, restructuring of the country are important but, we should look at what we can benefit from President Buhari’s administration as a people.

    “We should be peaceful, please let us give peace a chance, we need to create the enabling environment, we need to be ready to accommodate investors because, the gas revolution project will cost in excess of 15 billion dollars and the process of dredging the Escravos bar is part of the bargain”, he said.

    Also speaking, Chief Clark, said the answer to most of the crisis rocking the country from different parts of the country is in the report of the 2014 National Conference, adding that restructuring of the Nigerian system has become an issue in the face of all myriad of issues facing the country.

    “I posit that the answers to many if not all, of these issues are contained in the Report of the 2014 National Conference. I salute well-meaning persons who have supported the call for restructuring the country.

    “We must find a permanent solution to the various problems we are facing in this country including the youth revolt in the Niger Delta, Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram, Biafra agitation, kidnapping and recently, the inability of the various states to pay their workers’ salaries and pension.

    “My strong belief is that only a genuine restructuring of the political administration of the country will remove most of these problems in the country. With such, the issues that lead some of us to take up arms will be resolved,” he said.

    While commending the President Buhari for indicating the willingness to open line of dialogue with the aggrieved Niger Delta youths, Chief Clark stated such discussion should be channel through genuine leaders from the region.

     

  • Why Fed Govt should swap Chibok girls for militants

    Why Fed Govt should swap Chibok girls for militants

    IF Kabu Yakubu and her wife, Esther, parents of one of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, Dorcas, have their way, all detained Boko Haram fighters would be swapped for the more than 200 girls still being held by the militants.

    The duo yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to free the militants in exchange for the girls, who were abducted on April 14, 2014, from their dormitory at Government Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State.

    Their appeal came hours after watching her daughter speak in the new video released by the Boko Haram insurgents demanding the swap of their detained members with the Chibok girls

    The video posted by the insurgents on Sunday showed dozens of the 218 girls who were abducted two years ago, with one saying that “some” have died in air strikes by troops on the militants’ hideouts.

    They said the video rekindled their hope of reuniting with their daughter someday.

    Mrs. Yakubu was quoted as saying: “The Chibok girls must be rescued. They must have their lives, the future that Boko Haram tries to truncate.

    “I wanted her to have the best of education; I planned to sponsor her education to whatever level she wanted; but she could not sit for her final examinations because she was abducted.

    “Boko Haram in the video asked the government to release their members so that they could release our girls. If the government knows that it cannot handle the insurgency, it should invite other countries. It is not a crime to seek assistance in a war. It is a shame for them to allow our daughters to languish in captivity for over two years.

    “I don’t regret sending her to school, but I regret putting her in boarding school. If she was a day student, she would be home with me that night. The abduction affected her because she was in boarding school.”

    Apart from her daughter, Mrs. Yakubu said she recognised about 20 other girls in the latest video.

    Her words: “I recognised Saratu Ayuba, Awa Ishaiya and others. In that video, Dorcas has grown up a little and she is slimmer. I cried when I saw her in the video. That is only change I observe, but I thank God she is alive.

    “All the girls that have been rescued have rescued themselves. Not any government has rescued them, no army rescued them.”

    Echoing her wife, Mr Yakubu urged the government to release the detained Boko Haram members in exchange for the girls, saying that the demand had boosted his hope that his daughter and others would eventually make it home.

    His words: “I will sleep well because since she was kidnapped, I have never seen her in other videos released. But today (Sunday), I saw her in the video, and my joy was rekindled.

    “What we have been telling the government is what Boko Haram demanded in the video. We are appealing to the government to help us to release Boko Haram detainees so they can release our daughters.

    “In the video, my daughter was begging the government to negotiate with the terrorists and they (Boko Haram) said unless the government releases their members who were being detained in Abuja, Lagos and Maiduguri prisons, they won’t release the girls.”

    Dozens of the girls escaped on their own within hours of the mass abduction of 276 students that shocked the world.

    In May, a lone Chibok girl escaped from the Boko Haram stronghold in Sambisa Forest, saying she was led to freedom by her disillusioned Boko Haram ‘husband’.

    She was carrying a baby.

    The Bring Back Our Girls (#BBOG) campaigners are also pressing for a prisoner exchange, claiming that the President “rode to power” on the back of their cause, but has not done enough to free the girls.

    “Mr. Buhari can absolutely afford to trade terrorists’ lives for schoolgirls,” said human rights lawyer Emmanuele Ogebe, whose Education Must Continue campaign is paying to educate some of the escaped Chibok girls in the U.S.

    He questioned the President’s sincerity, noting that President Buhari said in May that he had not watched a proof-of-life video sent by Boko Haram to encourage negotiations, apparently as early as January.

     

    Learning from past pitfalls

     

    According to Information & Culture Minister Lai Mohammed, the Federal Government has been wary of talks with the militants as previous negotiations failed because officials have been duped into talks with the wrong people.

    The minister said: “We are being extremely careful,” information minister Lai Mohammed said in a statement. “We want to be doubly sure that those we are in touch with are who they claim to be.”

    A fighter who speaks in the video hints at who could mediate. “We want the government to know that … we don’t trust you, except some few journalists. We have never sent out or accept to be approached by anybody except journalists that we trust.”

    The video was posted by a Nigerian journalist Ahmad Salkida, who lives in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate (UAE) and is known to have good contacts in Boko Haram.

    Salkida said the video was sent to him by Abubakar Shekau’s wing of Boko Haram.

    On Sunday night, the military declared Mr Salkida wanted man, claiming he has “information on the conditions and the exact location of these girls”.

    But the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday disputed Boko Haram claim that some of the abducted girls have been killed during military bombings of theirs in Sambisa Forest.

    Defence spokesman Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar said in a statement: “It is extremely difficult and rare to hit innocent people during air strikes because the operation is done through precision attacks on identified and registered targets and locations.”

  • Militants kill three soldiers in ambush at checkpoint

    Militants kill three soldiers in ambush at checkpoint

    Three soldiers were yesterday killed in an ambush by militants at Nembe, Bayelsa State.

    The attack came amid the Federal Government’s plan to talk with the militants to end the Niger Delta crisis.

    The militants ambushed the soldiers at the newly established Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS) checkpoint around 9:30am.

    Reacting, JTF said it would, henceforth, go on the offensive to fish out militants operating in the creeks of Niger Delta.

    In Arepo, Ogun State, some bank tellers were found in militant camps destroyed by troops.

    The militants carted away military gunboats, riffles and ammunition after sacking JTF operatives at the checkpoint.

    The checkpoint, it was gathered, is at the entrance of Nembe community and has been there since militancy began in the Niger Delta.

    The checkpoint had been attacked in the past by gunmen who also killed JTF operatives and carted away their weapons.

    It was gathered that sounds of gunshots unsettled the community during the attack that lasted for about 30 minutes.

    There was pandemonium in the community as residents, who initially thought that their area was under siege, scampered for safety.

    The gunmen, who operated in many speedboats, were said to have dressed in white robes to deceive the soldiers.

    Their outfit, it was gathered, was designed to create the impression that they were on a funeral procession.

    A Nembe resident, who spoke in confidence to The Nation, said there was apprehension in the community.

    He said: “The attack was deadly and well-planned. Nobody had expected that such a thing would happen at such time when the jetties were busy with people preparing to go about their normal business activities.

    “I am sure even the soldiers did not expect such an incident to happen at that time. Some persons who were already sailing out of Nembe said they saw the gunmen but dismissed  them as mourners because they were dressed in white robes”.

    The source said some residents had started fleeing the community, with others contemplating doing so because of fear of   reprisal.

    “We are leaving in fear because the military may decide to raid the community. Some persons are already leaving while others are thinking of doing so because of the tension in the Niger Delta”, he said.

    It was gathered that the military was jolted by the incident.

    ODS Commander Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie was said to have convened a meeting of top military officers at the command to deliberate on the incident.

    He was said to have ordered full investigation into the incident and dispatched special patrol to comb the creeks for the miscreants.

    Leaders in the state were said to be afraid that the incident could lead to full-blown militancy and military operations.

    A Niger Delta activist, Mr. Alagoa Morris, lamented that the region was gradually sliding back to full-scale militancy.

    He said: “The land is gradually sliding back to full scale militancy and it is an unhealthy scenario; an ill-wind which will blow no one any good. Definitely, residents will be scared and will even begin to relocate or contemplate to relocate.”

    Bayelsa State Deputy Governor Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd), who hails from Nembe, has visited the area on assessment.

    Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) President Udengs Eradiri condemned the incident, saying there was no alternative to peace in the region.

    He advised youths involved in violence to stop forthwith in the interest of the region and residents in coastal communities.

    According to him, it is criminal and suicidal to think of attacking security personnel. He urged the security agencies to go after the culprits.

    Eradiri said the IYC would support only a peaceful and intellectual approach to the agitation for a better Niger Delta region.

    He said: “I am not happy with this development. I want to appeal to all the youths involved in this violence to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign in this region.

    “People should stop undertaking actions to portray the Niger Delta as a region of violence. We need peace and on the platform of peace the IYC stands.

    “I am also calling on the security agencies especially the military to investigate the incident thoroughly and go after the real culprits.”

    Though no group claimed responsibility for the attack, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has been leading a violent campaign to cripple oil installations in the region.

    Soldiers and oil workers had been killed in the region in similar operations since NDA started its violnce, but the group denied responsibility for the killings.

    The ongoing dialogue to end hostilities in the region has generated tension and resulted in the breakaway of the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) from the NDA.

    A statement by the RNDA naming prominent leaders from the region as its sponsors has further deepened anxieties.

    The government and the military have also said they would not rule out force if the ongoing dialogue failed.

    All the military formations have hinted that they were on’red alert’ for a full operation if the negotiations collapsed.

  • Bayelsa launches manhunt for militants, vandals, robbers

    Bayelsa State at the weekend began the enforcement of its new strategy to end the menaces of militancy, pipeline vandalism, pirate attacks, kidnapping and other criminal activities along the waterways and creeks of the state.

    The governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson, inaugurated a former militant leader, Mr. Africanus Ukparasia, popularly known as ‘General’ Africa, as the Chairman of the state Waterway Security Taskforce.

    At the inaugural ceremony which reportedly took place at the Banquet Hall, Yenagoa, Dickson was said to have mandated the taskforce to provide security agencies with required intelligence to deal with criminals.

    The ceremony which later moved to Africa’s palatial home attracted youths and leaders  from different parts of the state including the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Tiwe Oruminighe and the state Secretary of the party, Mr. Marlin Daniel.

    Youths were seen engaging in wrestling competition, dancing and singing at Africa’s compound where friends and family members including some former ex-militants went to identify with him.

    In his remarks, Africa assured the government of adequate security and intelligence gathering along the waterways of the state.

    He said criminals would no longer be allowed to take over the waterways to kill innocent people and subject travellers and traders to untold hardship.

    He warned sea robbers and other criminals operating in the state to leave the creeks or face tough times.

    Speaking on the choice of Africa, Oruminighe hailed Dickson for the appointment and said though the ex-militant leader is a member of APC, security is for everybody.

    He said Dickson, though a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), recently visited President Muhammadu Buhari to seek ways of solving the Niger Delta problem.

  • Photos: Ground force storm Ikorodu, Arepo creeks

    Photos: Ground force storm Ikorodu, Arepo creeks

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  • Militants in Lagos

    Militants in Lagos

    •The Buhari administration should deploy enough fire power in short order 

    It is very unfortunate that, in Nigeria today, the existence of militants has become a national problem and pain in the neck. There are now militants almost everywhere in the country, from the northern to southern states, especially the Boko Haram and Niger Delta militants who have remained a veritable bugbear disturbing the peace, security and economic stability of the country. Yesterday it was Boko Haram militants in the north, today it is Niger Delta with assorted militant groups fighting for one thing or the other. The militants have even found their ways to parts of the south west like Ogun and Lagos states.

    On July 19, on Pacific Estate, Ikejiobi Avenue, Ewedogbon in the Igando area of Lagos State, there was chaos after some militants engaged security operatives in a gun battle for about seven hours. The gunmen and about 15 women militants invaded the community at about 6.00 am through the waterways behind the estate. Two hours later, the policemen deployed to the area engaged the bandits in a gun battle. The militants who also looted shops escaped with frozen foods, bags of rice and garri. The situation was so tense that some residents, mostly women and children, left the area at about 2.00 pm. About 13 police vans, two Rapid Respond Squad armoured tanks and three OP MESA vans were on hand to protect about 200 displaced residents.

    The good thing about the incident was that some residents luckily escaped during the gun battle between the police and the militants. Although normalcy was later restored to the area, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmus, said no policeman died in the incident while no arrests were made, as the command was at that time still on the trail of the suspects.

    It is worrisome that militant attacks, which used to happen only in the Niger Delta region, is becoming a recurring decimal in Lagos State these days. For instance, there were similar instances in Ikorodu and a few other places in Lagos, which is not good news considering, especially, the investment of the Lagos State Government on security. We expect the police to complement such efforts by the Lagos State Government by putting in their all to ensure that citizens in any part of the state sleep with their two eyes closed.

    In any contest between ragtag bandits which the militants are, irrespective of where they hail from, and the country’s security agencies, there should be no doubt as to who wields the ultimate power. Given the manner the militants and other bandits had escaped through the creeks in the state after wreaking havoc, it is evident that the Marine Police Unit is not empowered enough to effectively challenge them.

    A source confirmed that much when he reportedly told the News Agency of Nigeria last year that “we don’t have boats to race in the quickest time for rescue mission. The highest speed boat in our fleet is 100 horse powers. We have the manpower, as well as the arms to handle any situation, but we don’t have adequate means of mobility for urgent mission. We appeal to the federal and Lagos State governments for new speedboats.” With the incessant attacks on residents and public facilities in the riverine areas of the state by the militants, we urge the police authorities to repair the unit’s broken down boats and acquire new ones to complement the ones donated to the police by the state government, to enable them meet the challenges of crime in the state.

    The government does not have to wait until the situation gets out of hand before doing something to stem the tide. Insecurity of whatever kind is not only bad for the people; it is also bad for business. On this note, the Federal Government should do everything within its power to stamp out this notorious challenge before it becomes a festering sore that may be difficult to cure. A stitch in time saves nine!

  • Four suspected militants held

    Four fleeing suspected militants were yesterday arrested by the police and local vigilante in different areas of Lagos.

    Police also rescued two landlords at Yawe community, who were kidnapped by the militants including one Daniel Akpugbe.

    The suspects were identified as Dare Jimoh, 20, Paul Oshodi, Samuel Oshodi and Isaac Ikire.

    While Jimoh was nabbed by detectives from Pedro Police Station, the others were arrested by policemen and members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) at Yawe Community, Igbo Olomu in Ikorodu during a gun duel that killed one of the vigilantes, Babatunde Sogunro.

    The Nation gathered that the militants who have been fleeing Ishawo and Arepo creeks following the bombardment of the mangrove region by the military were attempting to regroup in other parts of the state.

    Jimoh was said to have sneaked into Somolu on Saturday night with two others.

    Confirming the arrests, police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, said only Daniel Akpugbe was rescued from the militants at Ikorodu.

    She said his rescue was possible following information availed the police by residents of the Olanukan Community in Ishawo, adding that he was rescued from the hideout of the gunmen.

    Badmos, who also confirmed that Sogunro was shot by the fleeing militants, added that his corpse has been deposited at the Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary for autopsy.