JTF kills four militants in Rivers

The Joint Task Force deployed to the Niger Delta announced on Wednesday that troops had killed four militants, following an encounter in Rivers State.

The Deputy Commander of the JTF, Brigadier General Kevin Aligbe, who confirmed the development in Yenagoa, said a civilian member of the JTF crew aboard the troops’ boat died in the attack.

Aligbe explained that four other soldiers, who sustained injuries in the attack, were currently receiving medical attention in Port Harcourt.

He recalled that on July 13, troops deployed to Ogboubagbene Community in the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State came under similar attack that resulted to the death of a soldier.

According to him, an operative of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps as well as a policeman, who are members of the task force, got injured in the attack.

He said the militants had carted away some military hardware during the attack.

Aligbe noted, however, that troops were trailing the suspects, whom he said fled to some communities after the incident.

The JTF chief warned the communities to refrain from shielding or habouring criminals.

He enjoined residents of Ogboubagbene Community to reveal the identities of the criminals before they would be “smoked out’’ from their hideouts to face justice.

Aligbe dismissed reports that the military invaded the communities, molested innocent people and destroyed property.

He said that the ongoing effort to fish out those behind the attack was within the rules of engagement and operating procedure of the task force.

He said: “Following the malicious and unsubstantiated reports, I and other component commanders of the JTF and the Paramount Ruler of the community, Chief Godspower Oporomo, Pere of Kerebiri and Chiefs from 10 communities visited the sites they said hadbeen razed by troops.

“We found the entire communities to be in a calm and peaceful state while the residents were seen going about their normal activities. The reports were false.”

He applauded residents of the Niger Delta for their support to the task force, urging them to sustain the support.

The commander also told the residents to assist the task force with timely information that would assist them in ridding the region of criminality.