From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Pulo Shield is ending year 2014 on a high note with the arrest of five suspected sea-pirates believed to have masterminded the attack on a JTF fibre boat and killing of three soldiers.
Six soldiers had been killed in a space of 72 hours by suspected sea-pirates at Santa Barbara River and Azagbene community.
Daily Sun learnt that the Defence Headquarters, worried by the attack on the soldiers had directed the JTF Commander, Major General Emmanuel Atewe to fish out the killers of the soldiers.
The anti kidnapping and sea robbery squad of the JTF acting on intelligence reports had immediately swung into action by invading Ukubie community where it carried out a week long operation to fish out the killers of the soldiers.
At the end of the operation, five suspected sea-pirates believed to have carried out deadly attacks on military personnel and civilians were arrested after a shoot-out.
Investigations revealed that some of the suspected sea-pirates escaped but the JTF team arrested five of them and whisked them to its headquarters at Yenagoa.
The media coordinator of the JTF, Col. Mustapha Anka who paraded the suspects at the JTF headquarters said a cache of arms was recovered from the bandits.
Anka who stated that since the arrest of the suspected sea-pirates, normalcy has returned to the Bayelsa state waterways assured Bayelsans to go about their legitimate duty on the waterways as the JTF is on top of the situation.
“During the week long operation, three Browning Machine Gun (BMGs) with registration Nos 1981 with stand, B572 Banel No Z90323 with stand, HMG – 50MG ST Kinetics Serial No 2405PM with sitting, with its links ammunition (buried under ground), others are 1 AK 47 Rifles without registration No, a G3 Rifle with No G310D792 and She Rifle with Reg No T67439 and Wooden Dummy rifle.
Other items include 3 gunboat batteries, 1 Hp laptop computer, 1 Police fragmental jacket, 1 x 200 horse power engine, Empty cases of 12.7mm ammunition of HMG gun, 1 search light with batteries, 1 bag containing boat tools, 1 Nokia G6 mobile phone, 2 rifle butts and 1 plastic toy pistol were recovered in Ukubie Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa state.
The Manhunt was launched on the suspected sea robbers that attack JTF troops and waterways users in Sangana and Sacta-Babra waterways in Bayelsa and Rivers States.
Since the arrest of the criminals the normal peace that existing in the region has returned in the entire waterways. The JTF command wishes to reassure the good people of the Niger Delta and Nigerian in entirety not to fret, as JTF is on top of the situation.”
Anka further declared that the JTF under Atewe would ensure the safety of lives and property along the waterways.
He added that the recent delivery of gunboats to the JTF would strength its patrol operations to safeguard the Niger Delta region before and after the 2015 general elections.
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