From: Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe (ODS) has shed more light on how suspected militants attacked its troops at Letugbene community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The spokesman of the Command, Major Ibrahim Abdullahi, disclosed that two people, a soldier and a civilian died during the attack.
The Bayelsa State Government in a terse statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Jonathan Robinson Obuebite, had condemned the attack and described it as barbaric and unacceptable
The state government which said the attack was politically motivated declared that the state government would throw its weight behind a probe of the incident to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book.
Abdullahi in a statement issued on Friday explained that a rescue team supported by gunboats were dispatched to the area to provide support for the two remaining soldiers that engaged the militants.
The ODS which appealed for calm from communities around the area assured that its current operations is a surgical one to fish out the perpetrators and not reprisal attack on innocent citizens.
“The current operations in the Creeks and rivulets around the general area are surgical operations designed to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act some of whom fled into neighbouring communities. The job of the JTF remains to keep the peace on the waterways, creeks and the Niger Delta in general. Operation Delta Safe and indeed the Nigeria Military do not carry out reprisal attacks on innocent citizens as alleged in some quarters. Members of the public especially those resident in areas where operations are being conducted are hereby advised to go about their normal lawful duties at this time of Sallah break and celebrations”