Nigeria Military arrest 10 suspected militants

Niger Delta militants

The Nigeria military has arrested 10 suspected militants terrorizing various creeks in Cross Rivers, Niger Delta region, and recovered weapons from them.

Troops of Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS), carried out the operation which led to the arrest.

The soldiers intercepted and recovered cache of arms and ammunition in one of their operations in the state, that led to the arrest of the militants.

The new Commander, ODS, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman, said that in the Cross River operation, troops of Sector 4 acting promptly on a tip-off intercepted a gang of militants robbing innocent traders around Ikang axis.

The victims were said to be conveying bags of rice from Cameroon in wooden boats when two flying boats of militants armed with sophisticated weapons ambushed them.

But the troops reportedly stormed the area, isolated the eight-man gang of militants and engaged them in a gun battle that lasted over 15 minutes.

Seven of the militants were said to have escaped with various degrees of bullet wounds.

It was gathered that a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) was mounted in one of the flying boats used by the militants.

Suleiman listed arms and ammunition recovered from the militants as two speed boats, two General Purpose Machine Gun, 200 Horsepower boat Engine (HP), two 150 Horsepower boat Engine, one 75 HP Engine boat and one small wooden boat mounted with 9.9 HP Engine.

Others are three AK47 magazines, 306 rounds of GPMG 7.62 millimeter (mm), Browning Machine Gun (BMG) ammunition, one round of 12.7 millimeter BMG feeding tray, three empty ammunition boxes, one dagger knife, empty cases and links.

Also recovered were six touch light, seven tins of magi, two school bags, three tecno handsets, one Nokia handset, two Etisalat sim cards, two Airtel lines, one memory cards and charms.

Four military camouflage jackets, one Nigerian Navy head warmer, Camel bag (water bottle), four big raps of Indian hemp, packets of condoms and 12.7 millimeters BMG rounds and accessories, were further seized from the militants.

It was further learnt that the troops raided militant shrine at Ube Okobo in Akwa Ibom State owned by a notorious militant leader.

Though the militant leader was said to be on the run, the troops arrested six fleeing suspected militants.

Also, troops raided militant camp at Bilabiri community following a tip-off and nabbed four suspected militant.

Suleiman said since he assumed the command of ODS on November 16, his determination to sustain and improve on the pace introduced by his predecessor, Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie, yielded successes. (NAN)