– Troops have recovered a sack of rifles belonging to a gang of unrepentant militants in Bayelsa state
– The troops shot dead the driver of the boat and another unnamed suspect during the operation
– The troops were said to have stormed the waterside in two patrol vehicles at the weekend following a lead
– There was panic among indigenes, traders and travelers at the waterside following the incident
A sack of assorted riffles belonging to suspected militants have been recovered by troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS).
It was recovered from a speedboat belonging to suspected militants at Polako Waterfront, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.
The Nation reports that the troops who were acting on a lead, stormed the waterside in two patrol vehicles at the weekend.
When they sighted the boat, they opened fire on its occupants and one of the suspects was shot dead in the process.
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The driver of the boat identified simply as Mike was also shot dead. He was said to have reportedly jumped into the water shouting his innocence, but was hit by one of the bullets.
A source who spoke in confidence said: “The indigenes of the community were surprised by the arrival of some patrol team of soldiers at Polako waterfront. When they arrived, they took positions. Upon sighting the boat with some passengers, they opened fire.
“We suspected that the soldiers acted on tip off. But we were worried that the boat driver was shot instead of arresting him. Some arrests were also made in the process and they recovered the sack of
However, other sources said there was a shoot-out between the soldiers and the suspects, whom they described as gunrunners.
The sources claimed that the soldiers intercepted the gang which was conveying a consignment containing materials suspected to be guns to Polaku from Igbedi community, Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area of the state.
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Community sources also claimed that the boat driver was not a member of the gang as he was only hired by the hoodlums to convey them without any knowledge of their mission.
“He initially turned them down when they approached him but he only agreed to carry them to Igbedi after they promised to pay him a handsome fare.
“It was when they were confronted at Polaku by the ODS operatives who acted on a tip-off that the boat driver got to know the dangerous nature of the movement,” a source disclosed.
When contacted, the ODS’ Commander, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi, said he would confirm the incident from the Sector 2 Command of the outfit in charge of Bayelsa.
360naze
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