Military rescue captured colleague, kill four pirates in Bayelsa

Authorities of the Joint Task Force operating in the Niger Delta, going by the name Operation Pulo Shield, yesterday disclosed that its troops have rescued a soldier who was kidnapped by suspected sea pirates, along the Nembe creek on March 24, 2016.

The soldier, who had spent ten days in the kidnappers den, was said to have been rescued by troops from sector 2 of the command, during a search and rescue operation in the creek, around Otakeme community in Ogbia Local Council area of Bayelsa State.

A release signed by its spokesman, Col. Ado Isa, said the rescued soldier has been taken to a medical facility for treatment, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing criminals.

The release also revealed that its troops deployed in Nembe area, arrested a notorious medical worker, who specialises in treating militants and sea pirates who sustained gun injuries, during shoot out with security operatives in the region.

Sources said the medical worker, who has been on the business for a long time, was responsible for the treatment of the wounded sea pirates and their leader, who recently engaged troops of the joint task force in a shootout, along Nembe waterways.

Ado, in the release stated that four of the sea pirates were killed in the shoot out with the soldiers, others sustained injuries, while the medical worker was arrested.

He said, “Among them is the leader of the gang popularly known as IDIAGBON, who was taken to the medical facility belonging to the arrested medical worker at Okiama village in Southern Ijaw Local Council area, where treatment was administered on them.”

Ado added that luck however ran out of them, as troops on getting the information cordoned, adding that the “arrested suspects are currently undergoing preliminary investigation.”

He disclosed that the troops also carried out anti-illegal oil bunkering activities around Igbematoru, Ogu-Bolo and Bille axis of Bayelsa and Rivers States.

According to him, the oil thieve, operated in seven wooden boats, two Cotonou boats, four surface tanks loaded with suspected stolen products, and seven storage tanks, withg each loaded with 30,000 litres of fuel..