Bayelsa: JTF destroy 13 illegal refineries, as sea pirates kill 2 soldiers

The Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Delta Safe, yesterday while on routine patrol of the waterways in the creeks of the Niger Delta, discovered and destroyed not fewer than 13 illegal refinery camps operated in Rivers State.

This is contained in a statement signed by the media coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign centre, Major Abubakar Abdullahi made available to Nigerian Tribune in Yenagoa.

According to the Statement, the patrol was in continuation of effort to protect national assets on waterways, even as it noted that the troops of the JTF Operation Delta Safe discovered the illegal refineries around Iyalama Adama axis of Rivers State.

Though, the JMCC Spokesman said that no arrest was made.

In a related development, Abdullahi said another set of troops deployed at Creek 6 Houseboat Cawthorne Channel were unlucky, as sea pirates operating in the area in a heavy shootout killed two gallant soldiers who exhibited high level patriotism defending the nation’s assets.

Abdullahi posited that the gun duel occurred, then they (men of the JTF) responded to a distress call to contain sea pirates operating around Ijawkiri general area, stressing that while two soldiers were shot dead, three others sustain gunshot injuries.

The statement reads “Sadly, our troops deployed at Creek 6 Houseboat Cawthorne Channel while responding to a distress call of sea robbers attack around Ijawkiri general area engaged heavily armed sea robbers.”

Unfortunately, 2 gallant soldiers exhibited highest point of patriotism by paying supreme price, while 3 others sustained gunshot injuries.

The JMCC Spokesman averred that additional detachment of the JTF has been dispatched to the trouble spot; and they have continued to comb the area to track and apprehend the criminals.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), DSP Asinim Butswat has confirmed that a police patrol team was attacked by suspected gunmen while on patrol at the Otuasega road in Ogbia local government area of the state.

The statement, on 12 April, 2017, at about 0200hrs a police patrol team was attacked by unknown gunmen during a routine patrol along Otuasega road.

He noted that the policemen engaged the gunmen in a gun battle, in which a rifle was lost to the hoodlums, as they escaped into the bush with serious injuries.

Accordingly, the statement noted after the battle with the police, they gunmen also attacked another patrol led by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on the same road, while the gun duel lasted, a civil defence officer and one of the gunmen died on the spot.

The PPRO, however, posited that pump action riffle was recovered from the gunmen, while efforts have been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects.