•Group says company reneged on agreement •JTF rescues victims, four Naval personnel killed
From JUDEX OKORO, Calabar
Twenty-eight oil workers were abducted by Bakassi militants in Cross River State at the weekend.
The victims, who are employees of Sinopec, an oil services company in neighbouring Akwa Ibom State, were kidnapped by a militant group, Lactop Marine Force, operating in the Bakassi axis of the state.
They were said to be on their way to a Shell location in the Atlantic when the militants struck.
However, rescue came their way less than 24 hours after the abduction.
Investigations by Sunday Sun revealed that they were later rescued by the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Pulo Shield, in collaboration with the Eastern Naval Command, Calabar, Cross River State.
It was also gathered that the militant group abducted the oil workers following their employer’s failure to abide by the terms of agreement with the group on the provision of security to the oil firm early last year.
Confirming the abduction of the workers on telephone, spokesperson of Lactop Marine Force, Samuel Okoye, said: “We arrested the workers because their company reneged on earlier agreement that we should still provide security even as they have relocated to Uruan in Akwa Ibom State.
“But shortly after they moved down there, they turned their back on us.
“So, we had to strike to force them to do something.”
Okoye explained the reason behind the group’s action: “While at Ikang, Bakassi Local Government Area, they paid us to guard them and escort their workers whenever they went for oil exploration and services and when they left Ikang in October last year, for Uruan, they dumped us as if we are nobody.
“Even when we tried to talk to them on the issue, they bluffed us.
“So, it is a lesson to them to be wary of their activities.
“We are not after oil workers at the sea.
“We are after the Cameroon gendarmes, who have been terrorizing Nigerians on our waters.
“There are several companies operating on the sea and we have never arrested any of them except those who violate our terms.”
However, acting on a tip-off, the JTF launched an attack on the militants’ camp yesterday and rescued the kidnapped workers.
The Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Olufemi Ogunjimi, who briefed newsmen in Calabar, said the JTF raided the militant group’s hideout in the early hours of the day, adding that the group allegedly killed a naval officer and three ratings.
Ogunjimi said the militants also carried out activities that dented Nigeria’s image at the Ikang and eastern water ways
Describing members of the group as criminals, who had nothing to do with the agitation for the reclaiming of Bakassi, which was ceded to Cameroon by the International Court of Justice, he said, “They are the type of people that give the country very bad image.
“That is how far we have gone and the operation continues and in no distant time we will get through with them.”
The FOC described Lactop, the leader of the group, as a criminal that heads a gang that kidnaps for ransom, engages in piracy and killing of innocent people, including uniformed personnel.
The Commander of JTF, Major General Johnson Ochoga, said they had been on the operation to flush out the gang in the last three days and that they were given the opportunity to denounce their criminal activities, but they did not embrace the offer before the JTF closed in on the camp.
Ochoga said there was no casualty when JTF struck, though Lactop and his gang might have suspected that the security operatives were on their trail.
He said one of the 28 persons abducted, out of panic when the troop approached the camp, ran away and that his whereabouts had not been known.
Also speaking, the Brigade Commander, 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Calabar, Brigadier General Shehu Yusuf, whose men were in charge of the land operation, said no life was lost.
Yusuf said Lactop would not be harmed if he surrendered himself.
The good news is the creation of the Niger Delta Ministry, NDDC, granting of amnesty and the training of militants (about 5,204). The bad news is that this is a short-term solution to the problems in the Region. The long-term solution requires revitalization of the dilapidated infrastructures in the Region; thereby creating employment for the masses in the communities and enabling environment for business.
Thank you,
Elder (Dr.) Chukwuma Nwaonicha.
Please this is a very late News,the Abductees have been rescued by the JTF.I hate reading stale News.Thank you.
We have two nations in one,the Nigeria nation and the Millitant nation,it’s a result of strong and good government,ride on Nigeria,ride on!
The militant wouldn’t have struck in that kidnapping manner,reneging in promise required good attention of the court than embarking in such heinous activity.
Why cant govt dislogde the boko haram, this is a plot from the fedral govt to stop the bakssian from fighting 4 dia right, the will not succede.
Oh bakassi stand up for ur right the nigerian are not prepared to help ur nor is cemeroun, dont relent effort, fight with any thing, fight with evry thing, may God be with u and punish obj 4ver.
Fedral Govt shuld nt harm dz pple cos they fighting 4their right. Let the JTF go nd get Boko Haram there in d North nt those fighting 4 their right.
Good talk mr eze you are the true son of his father . Buy
Go ahead bakasians
The bakassi has been given to cameroon nigeria should forget about the one we have right away what do we do with them so leave them alone because nigeria cant get it again.
Bakassi militant is not the first attack in nigeria . Besid the bakassi attack is a reasonable attack .cos the people of bakassi are saying about there land all the time be4 this attack . There was a stupid an senseless an hopeless attack in north so called boko haram with dere bombing an killing innocent sole’s distroying of goverment property’s so jtf should finish the first attack be4 the second attack an be4 you move. you will look the reasonable attack an stupid attack . Attack is the best way for somebody to claim something that belong to him or her . Thanks
As far as Bakassi pple are humans they will continue 2 fight 4 their right.
We have proved to the world that crime pays. They are the next Tompolo, Ateke Tom and Asari Dokubo so federal government should hurry up and settle them.
World court my anus, if bakassi was a part of d british isle or d USA wil dey hav alowed any world court 2 cede a part dem 2 anoda nation without d piple’s consent thru vote? Wat an injustice. Look, d piple dont want 2 b camerounian, therefor no part of dia land is cameroun. Expect more militant from bakassi.
If d group iz massob,no second chance.nemesis are coming
I quite agree wit u al, d deplorable situatn of d dxplacd bakasians is nt encouraging, bt mus we continud wit unending deaths & dxstructn 4 Nigeria 2 b fixed? No my belovd, nstead we ar given govt biter pils 2 chew. Lets encourage dialouge & d govt towards provid human devlopment 4 d bakasians. Earliar it was Niger delta militants, nex was Boko Haram, now Bakasi militants. Our futur leders d children ar d endangerd species wit al dx spate of kilns & dwnwards devlopmnt of Nigeria. Pls lets tink it ova again.
Bakassi people should continue to push harder for their rights.my prayers to God,have mercies for bakassi people and see them through.
I dont know what could i say but this is a pure wickedness of yakube Gowon and greed of northerns they want rule forever that is why they give away our land to camerounais
JUSTICE FOR BAKASI PEOPLE.
when did okoye become an efik or an ibibio name .
that lapco leader is a fake and must be a criminal
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD LOOK AT THIS BAKASSI ISSUE ONCE MORE. HOW CAN WE AS THE LARGEST ECONOMY IN AFRICA, LARGEST PARTY IN AFRICA ,LARGEST POPULATION IN AFRICA INFACT LARGEST CRIMINALS IN AFRICA JUST CONCEED PART OF OUR COUNTRY TO ORDINARY CAMEROUN WITHOUT A GUN SHOT. THIS IS UNLIKE OBJ
Pharoah let my pple go(Entity calld 9jiria shud let d pple of Israel go).Let dem go nd worshp dia livin God dat blessd dem wit mineral resources nd etc.9jiria’s securities shud discontinue disturbin dese pple bcos of blesses of God on dia land.I pray 2 God 2 protect nd guide u guyz dat was fytin 4 d ryt of dia citizen.Kip on,God is wit u guyz.Holy Ghost fire 9jiria! It’s beta 2 die in d strugle dan 2 liv as a slave in my fada’s land.It’s abominatn!
FG should take a proper and elderly look into this matter.The Bakassians are to be seen as a group of people who are looking forward to claíming their rights.Cameroon we aint gonna leave that area 4 u people period!
This is just for starting. but may God punish JTF in jesus name Amen. God is in bakassi land now with a sword. And nobody can succed him. If JTF WANT TO SECURE NIGERIA LET START FROM THE NORTH not from bakassian land because this is thier right. MAY GOD BE WITH BAKASSIANS
Bakassians ll b protected n thier land restored bck by d God of justice , fuck icj & fct 4 thier injustice.
Bakassi people embrace peace and let God fight our course. Nothing can be achieved under the atmosphere of violence and insurrection. God bless Niger Dalta.
Bakassi our fathers land! Keep on figthing 4 ur rite.
Bakassi our father land! Keep on figthing 4 ur rite.
FG both executive n legislative are d gang of criminals dat are staying there to lavishes the wealth of this nation. How can a whole aclaimed giant of Africa would sold his pple in their father’s land to become slave n stranded in their home land God will never forgive dis so called Nigerian’s leaders who had betreared the Bakassian, i urge them not to giveup for figthing for their right because by action n prayer we can overcome this.Nigerians wake up and figth this evil in our land dat is beyong Bakassian it need collective effort.God bless Nigeria
Freedom is not freely given to the oppressed, the oppressed must fight for it…..It is not a sin for one to fight against oppression, the Isrealite fought for all their land before they possessed it. Bakassi people are free to fight for their stolen land
Why is it that they cant trace Boko Haram till today? bcos thier people are hiding them. I will feel bad if they harm those Bakassian.
Bakassi people ,violence is not the ans………………! embrace peace
Let there be peace in our Land,,,,dat’s the secret of development n westernizition
Pls my people, let us judge right. Dis people is fighting for there right. And is a lesson to those white who refuses to carry out there duty right. My advice goes to u whites pls settle ur debtors.
Nothing can be achieved in an atmosphere of rancour,bitterness and insurrection.i urge d federal govt to look critically at all d issues affecting d people of bakassi and profer realistic solutions.
Jonathan pls go back to ICJ and appeal that judgement against Nigeria bf it’s late. For bakasian, pls don’t give up the fight
I cannot understand the parameters or yardstick used when nigerian govt.headed by obj used to ceed our territory to cameroun.As a person who knows the terrain of bakassi very well,u can never find a single camerounian there b4&even now,no one cameroun language is spoken there,the bakassians have been living there since time immemorial&even b4 the slave trade,european partition of africa.This people had been here b4 any treaty of any kind was signed b/w any king and any foreign power.If morocco could lay claim to western sahara up till now &refuse referandum proposed by un under Kofi Annang as sec.general,if Britain could go as far as south america Argentina’s door step&lay claim to falkland islands,Isreal refused any deal with palestinian on jeruselem,even Yitza Rabin paid with his blood 4 ceeding some portions of land to palestinians,then y,y&y must we ceed our territorial waters&islands to cameroun.The world court judgement is not 4 us.Bakassi peninsular is nigeria&vice versa
I DO THINK WE UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE GOING. BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS TURING DOWN.
Bakassi will never be a cameroun land, what type of Kangoro court that trying to push people to another nationality they are not part of, infact Yakubu Gowon should be declared wanted, he is not supposed to allow to move freely. Why not yakubu give the nortern land to cameroun.
It’s a very good oportunity to reclaim the land if only that gej could show interest .
“No nation, no matter how potential great, can achieve greatness,in the foundation of rot, indicipline and corruption” quoted-SOYINKA.Nigerians wake up from your 51 years of slumber from 1960 till date and put things in other. God bless Niger.
Peace is d first thing to be sought for. GEJ should do something about this bcos this can lead to war between Nigeria and Cameroun. BAKASSI boys re fighting for their right and i dont blame them for that. Peace to Nigerians
why is it that the north is boiling and they are here fighting for people who are looking for there right?shameless naija soldiers
May Allah salvage Nigeria in the Hands of corrupt leaders, ameen.
The people of Bakassi must not be detered by JTF or the Gerndame in fighting for their right. God help Bakassi
May be Dr. President Jonathan will give them Billions contract as he gave to the Ijaw militant!
When there are pressing issues like this to channel energy on, these redundant administration is spending money and doing unnecessary, irrelevant thing like printing 5000 naira note. OH MY GOD ARISE AND SHOW MERCIES TO ORDINARY NIGERIANS
d fact is dat Nigeria govt is confused. how can they leave d pressing issue of boko haram and be confrontin innocent bakassians who r fightin 4 dia rights?
Which problem this una country go fit solve
Nigerian security director is a foolish man, General musa at east, colonel Olaniyi at east, how many Emeka or Efiong is in charge of JTF in North where Boko Haram are. why can’t the security direct post Emeka to massob area, Efiong to Ijaw and Musa to North so each General can help solve problem at his area.
The title of this report is deceptive. The bandits are not Bakassi militants. We all need to upgrade.
Nawao 4 dz 9ja
Bakassi people must prove to the world that they are not stateless but that they are Nigerians. Fight for your land that is so bless by God . All Niger Delta people are strongly in support of your struggle.
may God protect from ur enemies within and external forces.
These people have said what was their problem. These people used them and wanted to dump them, but they never wanted to be dumped, but to be paid off. These oil companies make a lot of money, but it’s so sad to realise that the youths around them finds things difficult. Let them settle Lactop, simple.
obj did what he did because he believed that one day he’ll own a refinery there just like in sao-tome and principe, but that plan will not see the light of the day, because sooner or later nigeria will reclaim what is rightfully theirs.
nawa 2 u 9ja, piple were drop gun som of dem til 2day fed govt neva pay dem som generals neva see 1naira 4 amnesty til 2day lacto use ur gun chop dont mind fed govt, all they know is empty promise.