The Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield, has successfully scuttled 7 hide outs used by Kidnappers and Sea robbers in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in a recent operation in the area.
In a statement signed by JTF Media Coordinator, Lieutenant Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, it said “following findings from series of thorough surveillance and investigations carried out by our operatives on recent criminal activities of Kidnappers and Sea robbers in the water ways and creeks along the Delta-Bayelsa axis of the Niger Delta, the Joint Task Force uncovered a number of hideouts that has served for hibernation to these criminals.”
According to him, “these criminals have over time harassed and intimidated not only the inhabitants of these communities but also those engaged in commercial activities in the water ways. The nefarious activities of these criminals have therefore to a large extent detrimentally impacted on the socio-economic activities of the people in the affected areas and the generality of users of the water ways.
Consequently, we commenced a joint operation to rid the water ways and creeks of all criminal hide outs to restore normalcy.”
Lt. Colonel Nwachukwu said, “the operation, code named OPERATION CLEAN UP THE WATER WAYS commenced at about 11.00 pm on Tuesday in Azuzuama which has served as a safe haven for notorious Kidnappers and Sea robbers and have been used as a platform for launching attacks on innocent victims.”
He added that “Identified criminal hideouts used for keeping kidnapped victims in Lobia 1, Lobia 2 and Okugbe in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area were also scuttled during the operation.” While Maritime platforms, comprising 3 Fibre boats and 2 sophisticated sea-going boats used by the criminals from their hideouts were scuttled.
Items including 1 Ak 47 riffle magazine loaded with 34 live rounds of 7.62mm, yard of Army camouflage and sewn uniforms, 1 cartridge belt, wraps of marijuana, 2 Thuraya phones, Radio intercom communication set and 109 Honduran Lempira (foreign currency notes) were recovered from the hide outs.
He assured that measures are currently underway to deploy troops in Azuzuama to maintain security presence in the area. We again urge all law abiding citizens to cooperate with the JTF in ensuring that our water ways are sanitized and safe to foster the socio- economic wellbeing of the good people of the Niger Delta.
