Troops of the Nigerian Army have raided the camps of suspected oil thieves and militants at Igbomotoru and Azuzuama communities of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The raid was allegedly conducted by troops of 5th Battalion, 16 Brigade Nigerian Army over the weekend.
The soldiers were said to have also combed the crude oil pipeline routes along the Obama flowstation, Kolo creeks and Brass areas of the state.
Senior military sources said the operation was targeted at scuttling the activities of some alleged notorious militants involved in setting up illegal bunkering camps in Southern Ijaw communities.
But another source claimed that the operation was targeted at arresting a known militant leader over his alleged shady and criminal activities in the area.
The source, who craved anonymity, said the suspected militant and his army of boys escaped through the creeks when he got information about the impending military raid.
It was further learnt that the shrine allegedly used to administer oaths on youths during recruitment into the illegal bunkering activities by the suspected militant leader was destroyed.
Many items, including military camouflage, mobile phones and military boots were reportedly seized by the operatives during the raids.
However, some indigenes of the Igbomotoru community have cried out over alleged military occupation of their area.
They claimed the development had created panic resulting in some indigenes deserting the communities over fear of indiscriminate arrest by soldiers.
An Indigene of Igbomotoru, who spoke in confidence, said on Sunday that the area was calm as the troops had retreated from the community as of Sunday morning.
“The situation is calm now. We are peace loving community and would not want soldiers to occupy our area,” the source stated.
Attempts to get the spokespersons for the 16 Brigade of the Nigerian Army and the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) to speak on the development were unsuccessful as they neither denied nor confirmed the operation.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
