Militants attack JTF again, 5 die during cross fire in Rivers

An early morning attack on the joint military force deployed to Rivers state , the second within one week left five people dead amidst fears of renewed agitation in the Niger Delta region.

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

The Deputy Commander of the JTF, Brig.-Gen. Kevin Aligbe, who confirmed the development in Yenagoa, said that 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 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 that the militants had carted away some military hardware during the attack.

Aligbe said, however, that troops were trailing the suspects, whom he said, had 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.

Stakeholders including the Ijaw Youths Council and the Civil Liberties Organisation had raised alarm and alleged that the military had overrun the communities and violated the rights of residents.

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.

“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,” Aligbe said.

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