Ondo Raid: We did not target innocent citizens -JTF
Commander
The Joint Task Force, (JTF) deployed to the
Niger Delta said on Friday that it neig ther targeted innocent citizens nor
sacked communities as being alleged in some quarters.
The military on Friday said it would operate within rules
of engagement in the search for militants in Ondo State despite the campaign of
calumny against its operations to flush out the militants from their hideouts..
JTF Commander, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman, said in
Yenagoa on Friday that the task force, code named “ Operation Delta Safe” was
determined to apprehend fleeing militants and clearing of their hideouts .
He also said that such hideouts were used to keep
kidnapped victims
Suleiman said that troops did not sack Ajapa community in
Ee-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo
during the operation that killed militant leader, Ossy Ibori.
He said that the operation was not targeted at innocent
residents of the area.
“What we are actually doing there is clearance operation;
and it’s all about the shrines, the hide-outs and the militant camps that were
used as safe havens by the militant groups that are being destroyed.
“We identify them; we don’t just go and burn. These are
identified using our intelligence that these were where the militants were
using before the raid”, he said.
According to Apochi, troops involved in the operation did
not burn houses of residents and such incident never occurred.
“Those who are actually coming out to say this are part
of the premeditated defence by the late militant leader’s followers, who are
enjoying the proceeds of this criminality.
“They think that the only way they can douse the tempo of
our operation is to go to the public to whip up sentiments that we are
disturbing and sacking innocent people.
“That is not the situation. The situation is that we
identify the camps, the shrines and all the areas that were used as safe havens
by the criminals and it is believed that these were proceeds of acts of
criminality”, he said.
The Commander, however, warned that the task force would
not hesitate to deal with any person or group found to be providing cover for
the militants.
”If you are collaborating, you are sponsoring, you are
protecting or housing any criminal, you have lost the immunity and we will go
after you and all such groups”. Apochi said.
He explained that while the leader of the militants was
killed, some of his followers were arrested and a cache of ammunition recovered
in the ongoing operation.
He further said that some soldiers were killed in the
operation, but declined to mention the actual number.
“We lost quite a number of them, some are in hospital,
these were innocent soldiers, they have made the supreme sacrifice for this
nation and they were murdered cold
blooded.
“I would like to use this opportunity to condole the
families of our fallen heroes, who paid the supreme sacrifice in the course of
maintaining peace and security in this operation.
“They were dedicated, gallant, laden with vigour and
determination to protect their fatherland. I assure you that their sacrifice
will never be in vain”, the commander said.
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