Soldiers Kill Two Suspected Militants in N’Delta

Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

Barely a week after soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), recovered 25 human skulls from the creeks of Niger Delta, the troops fighting militancy in the region yesterday said they killed two suspected militants in the region.

The raids, according to the special security outfit, continued yesterday with the killing of a ‘notorious’ militant identified as Okon Iyo, while the body of another one who was earlier shot by the soldiers was recovered.

Lt Col., Olaolu Daudu, Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre of the OPDS, told journalists in Yenagoa that the deceased suspects belonged to the dreaded Bakassi Strike Force, BSF.

He added that several other suspects whose compounds were raided by the security operatives were arrested, while the shrines used in perpetrating their activities were destroyed.

Also, as part of their operations, Lt Col Daudu noted that troops foiled an attempt by suspected militants to bomb a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, in Delta State.

“Troops of Sector 4 deployed at Efut Esighi in Southern Cross River State during anti-militancy operation raided Efut Esighi forest and killed a notorious militant popularly known as Okon Iyo while he was trying to escape.

“Similarly, troops discovered the dead body of one of the Bakassi Strike Force militants who was earlier engaged in Efut Esighi but escaped with gun injuries. His body was seen in a bush close to the main road in Effionsa, Bakassi Local Government Area,” the JTF said.

He added that troops also raided the compound of a suspected member of BSF, Mr. Otobong Sunday Essien, at Road 27 Resettlement Center Bakassi.

“ A motor bike was recovered from his compound. In addition, troops intercepted a Passat wagon car owned by a suspected Bakassi Strike Force militant known as G1. He is the sentry Commander of the group. “Furthermore, troops deployed at Ikang border patrolling Ikot Offing Ambai in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, discovered militants shrines and also apprehended the Chief Priest of the group with an empty box of ammunition at another shrine at Ekpri Ebutong Estate in Bakassi”, he said.

On the foiled pipeline attack, he said, “On 31 October 2016, troops foiled vandalism of NPDC Well Head at Kokori Oil Field, Oil Mining Lease 30 located at Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

“Vandals fled the site on sighting troops. Operation DELTA SAFE will continue to ensure sanity of the Niger Delta Region as law abiding members of the public go about their legitimate daily businesses”.