JTF destroy nine militant camps in Bayelsa.

Posted by admin Bayelsa, Niger Delta, Top Stories Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

The Joint Task Force, Wednesday, said it had taken over ten ex militant camps in the creek of Bayelsa State just as the whereabouts of the kidnapped site engineer at Okpoama in the Brass council area of the state remained unknown.

Nine of the camps, according to the JTF were razed down while the one over looking the Atlantic Ocean was spared for strategic reason and is presently being occupied by soldiers.

The camps included those recently surrendered by the ex combatants and others seized by the task force during its recent operation to rid the creek of ex militant camps, resurging camps and criminal elements.

Spokesman of the Joint Media Campaign HQ Sector 2, Lt. Commander F.A Achukwu who disclosed this in Yenagoa said the burning of the camps and the occupation of the only camp that was spared for strategic reason was personally supervised by the commanding officer of the 149 Battalion.

He said, “sequel to the directive of Sector 2 commander Col Victor Ezugwu, on the take over and destruction of all militant camps in Bayelsa State, 149 Battalion HQ and its component units have completely taken ten ex militant camps in her area of responsibility.

“Nine of the camps were burnt and one occupied by JTF troops because of its strategic position. The commanding officer of 149 Battalion Col A.A Ojajune personally supervised the burning and the occupation.”

Meanwhile, the whereabouts of Jude Abaokporo, the kidnapped site engineer at a construction site at Okpoama in the Brass local government of Bayelsa State is still a mystery to the security agencies.

The kidnappers it was learnt had not contacted anybody for ransom making the tracking of their location difficult for security operatives.

But a security source told Vanguard that they have intensified patrol of the deep swamp with the police anti kidnapping squad combing the area.

“I can categorically tell you that the police have intensified patrol of the area with the anti kidnapping squad combing the creek but no contact has been established with the kidnappers,” source said.

The embattled engineer abducted in the early hours last week Friday by gun wielding youths allegedly dressed in military fatigue who stormed his residence and taken away to an unknown destination.

The government had condemned the abduction and called on the kidnappers to release their captive to aenable him join his family for the festive season.wp_posts