Why JTF is after John Togo

Posted by admin Latest Politics, Niger Delta Sunday, May 15th, 2011

Fresh facts have emerged on why the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) is after the militant leader, General John Togo. Intelligence sources said the on-going military operation by the JTF was provoked by John Togo, who gave the impression that he was willing to surrender but was actually erecting new camps.
Also Togo was said to have generated tension in the area when he alerted the Ayakoromor community that some ex-militant leaders were planning to attack him and told them to move from the area so as not to be caught in the cross fire.

Checks indicated that the JTF, having some of its personnel working on the reconstruction of the Ayakoromor community and acting on a tip off, was undertaking a routine patrol when Togo’s boys attacked them. Sources said because the JTF was not ready to abandon the reconstruction of the Ayakoromor community, took a decision to ensure that Togo must be captured and had mandated that its operations would continue. Meanwhile the JTF in a statement to clarify its on-going operations in the area said it had abundant evidence that Togo was not ready to give up militancy and vowed not to halt its operation.

According to the media officer of the JTF, Lt. Col Timothy Antigha, Togo had built new camps around Obubu creek, which the JTF had discovered and it had been involved in consultations with the communities where Togo was said to be hiding to persuade them to give him up. He denied that the JTF was carrying out any operation in Ayakoromor community, adding that its operation was at Tambou creek. The JTF disclosed that some of its men, who were injured in the attack carried by Togo’s boys before the commencement of its on-going operations had been evacuated for proper medical attention.

The statement read in part: “Further to previous updates on the on-going operation to stamp out the threat of militancy in the Niger Delta region, I am pleased to provide the following update. The JTF is continuing with its efforts to isolate renegade militant leader, John Togo, and his gang. In this regard, the JTF has been holding consultations with community leaders of riverine communities where John Togo has been hiding. The essence of this effort is to carry the leaders along and intimate them of the risk in providing safe haven for people, who constitute clear and present threat to the stability of the nation.”

It continued: “I would also like to disclose that the JTF has so far discovered some recently constructed camps, built by John Togo, within Obubu creek and environs. The import of this discovery is that Togo is not considering giving up on militancy and criminal activities. Furthermore, the JTF would also want to clarify that the on-going operation is not in Ayakoromor as mischievously portrayed in some media. The on-going operation is around Tambou creek. Therefore, the imputation that the JTF is destroying houses and killing people in Ayakoromor is not only callous and irresponsible; it is also false and misleading and, therefore, should be disregarded.

Finally, I wish to add that following the unprovoked attack on a JTF patrol on May10, 2011, which preceded this on-going operation, some personnel sustained various degrees of injuries and have been evacuated for adequate medical attention.”

-Sunwp_posts