SECURITY FORCES ARREST 3 SUSPECTED MILITANTS IN DELTA

Operatives of the special security forces in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shield have arrested three suspected militants and pipeline vandals along the Benin River in Delta State. The suspects were identified as Mako Ajagidi aka Sorsor, Godspower Alebi and Okiti Ariri.

Commander of the Joint Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shield, Major General Okunlola who briefed newsmen in Yenagoa said the suspects were arrested by troops along the Benin River and its adjoining creek in Itagbene, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Items recovered from the suspects, according to Gen Okunlola include, one Light Machine Gun LMG, five AK 47 rifles, one G3 rifle and one LAR rifle. Others are 20 AK 47 magazines, 2 LAR rifle magazines and 415 rounds of 7.62mm × 39mm special, quantity 299 × 7.62mm NATO Ammunition, 273 rounds of 5.65mm Ammunition, 10 dynamites and bundles of 2 detonating cord.

Okunlola said the recovery of the arms and ammunition was a result of the raids on suspected militant camps in the region. He said the troops of the Joint Force would not relent in their effort to stop oil theft, vandalisation of the nation’s oil facilities and other vices in the region.

“The operation is a continuous one aimed at recovering all illegally acquired arms that have found their way into the Niger Delta region,” he said.

‘Okunlola called on the people of the Niger Delta region to key into the Operation Pulo Shield zero tolerance campaign against illegalities and also give useful information that would aid troops of the Joint Force to track and arrest miscreants in the region.