N’Delta JTF Arrests Wanted Militant, Apollo in Bayelsa Community

The Join Task Force today said the ongoing Defense Headquarters Operation 777 has arrested a wanted militant and member of ‘Kill and and Bury’ gang, Gift Apollo a.k.a. Thousand, in Ekeki Community in Bayelsa State.

The arrest was made during JTF’s Anti-illegal bunkering/Anti-Illegal refining operations in the Community.

JTF Commander, Rear Admiral Apochi Ogabu Suleiman disclosed this in a press briefing held at the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Delta Conference room in Warri.

Rear Admiral Suleiman said the militant group was allegedly responsible for the attack and death of soldiers deployed in Abua/Odua in August 2018.

“With the help of the arrested criminal, effort is ongoing to arrest other members of the notorious gang.

“The 777 Operation was very successful and has rid the Community of criminal elements who lurk around to engage in illegal refining.operations and other associated criminalities.”

Rear Admiral Suleiman added that 160 cultists led by Unyime Friday Ibanga also known as Englishman Overcomer from Island Cultists group in Etim Ekpo LGA of Akwa-Ibom State also laid down their arms.

According to him, “Weapons recovered during the disarmament exercise include 3 Ak 47 rifle, 42 live rounds of 7.62mm (Special), 5 cartridges, 3 pump action rifles, one riot gun(long), 6 AK 47 empy magazines, one assault magazine, 23 locally made pistols, 8 locally made single barrel guns, 10 axes and 31 cutlasses.”

Rear Admiral Suleiman said the disarmament exercise held at Uruk at a primary scchool in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa-Ibom State.

He said, four other cultists from the same cult group surrendered their weapons including 4 locally made pistols and one locally made single barrel gun.

“With these criminals and weapons out of circulation, the Joint Task Force is making inroads towards restoring peace and order to the Niger Delta.

“It is believed that the coming days, more criminal elements would take a clue from the Island Cultists group and surrender their arms.”

Rear Admiral Suleiman who gave stewardship of Operation 777, said the JTF also rescued Nigerian Agip Workers who were kidnapped while carrying out an assessment of a blast welk head at Azuzuama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

In his words: “The Joint Task Force conducted an operation to rescue the abductees from the location.

“However, troops were unable to locate the kidnappers’ den. Subsequently, identified criminal’s safe havens in the community were raided so as to locate the kidnap victims.

“The resulting pressure from these military action coupled with negotiations embarked upon by Nigerian Agip Oil Company led to the recovery of the abductees who were released unscathed. Efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest the perpetrators of the acts.”

Rear Admiral Suleiman said the Defense Headquarters Operation 777 is to rid out criminals from its Joint Operations Area.

He noted that the Operation Delta Safe, OPDS was established with a mandate to protect oil and gas infrastructure and deter militancy, crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and other criminality within its JOA that could impact negatively on the economic activities of the Niger Delta.

The JTF comprises of land, Marine, AirForce, Police, Department of State Security, DSS and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.

Rear Admiral Suleiman said the components have been conducting its operations across the Join Operations Area covering Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States as well as Southern parts of Akwa-Ibom, Cross Rivers, Edo and Ondo States.

“Huge achievements have been made resulting in increased oil and gas production.”

He pointed out that pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering and.associated criminalities still exists in isolated locations.

“These cases increase during major festivities and election year. This necessitated the launching of Operation 777 by Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Gabriel Abayomi Olonisakin, activated by HQ OP Delta Safe on 10th October, 2018, following a Defense Headquarters directive.”