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Tag: Joint Task Force

  • Joint task force kill four suspected IPOB, ESN members, recover weapons in Anambra

    Joint task force kill four suspected IPOB, ESN members, recover weapons in Anambra

    Four suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network, ESN have been killed  by the joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA II, according to reports.

    The reports were made available to journalists  by the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 82 Division Nigerian Army, Jonah Unuakhalu on Sunday.

    According to the reports, the operation took place on Thursday along Orsumoghu-Ukpor road in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria.

    The reports added that the daredevil gunmen ambushed the troops with Improvised Explosive Device (IED) before the officers engaged them in a gun battle leading to the killing of the four agitators.

    Unuakhalu explained that during the gun duel, the troops countered the ambush with superior firepower and neutralized one member of the IPOB group.
    He said three more bodies of the criminal elements who died due to gunshot wounds were recovered after the battle.

    The statement added that two AK-47 rifles were recovered at the scene of the fire fight, saying some of the criminals escaped into the nearby bushes with various degrees of gunshot injuries.

    “The Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA II wishes to reassure the good people of the South-East of its unwavering resolve and commitment to restoring lasting peace in the region as it will not relent in the fight to end the security challenges in the region.

    “The Task Force, therefore, calls on law abiding and good citizens of the South-East region not to relent in providing timely, credible and reliable Information which will lead to ending the menace of insecurity occasioned by activities of the irredentist group in the region.

    “Operation UDO KA II will continue combating crime and criminality in accordance with the extant rules and regulations guiding its operations”, the statement added.

  • Just In: Many allegedly injured as FCTA crushes over 470 okada

    Just In: Many allegedly injured as FCTA crushes over 470 okada

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Joint Task Force impounded and destroyed 470 motorcycles operating at Gosa village along Airport Road, Abuja.

    It was gathered that attempts by the motorcyclists to keep their motorcycles from being impounded led to a violent clash between them and security operatives.

    The task force was said to have stormed the community in a raid on Thursday as security operatives engaged them in a speed chase as okada operators fled into different directions to avoid being arrested.
    No fewer than 470 motorcycles were said to have been impounded in an exercise that started from the popular car wash bus stop in Lugbe, combing through Gosa, Bill Clinton drive, Trademore Estate, Lugbe junction as well as the Kubwa and its environs.

    It was learnt that several teargas canisters were shot by a combined team of personnel from the DRTS, Police, Civil Defence, DSS, and the Military to repel the irate motorcyclists who pelted the task force in the process with stones.

    Many of them sustained varying degrees of injuries while others were arrested.

    The Secretary Transportation Secretariat, Nya Ubokutom while addressing newsmen before the seized motorcycles were crushed at Area 1 round about, warned commercial motorcyclists to strictly limit their operations to the areas designated for them.

    He further explained that the Administration’s desire to develop a smart city devoid of all sorts of pollution cannot be achieved if illegalities are allowed to pervade the Federal Capital City.

    Also, the Director, FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Dr Abdulateef Bello said apart from the City Centre, commercial motorcyclists are not allowed to operate on any of the territory’s highways stating that the administration is determined to rid the entire FCT roads of okada operators.

    He, however, warned that one of the strategies to be deployed towards eliminating commercial motorcyclists from FCT roads is arresting passengers who patronise the business.

    Similarly, food vendors and passers-by took to their heels at Galadimawa round about on sightings the intimidating joint task force team as they arrived to carry out their operation.

  • Scores of bandits killed after aerial bombardment in Niger

    Scores of bandits killed after aerial bombardment in Niger

    The Nigerian Air Force has explained that they neutralized a certain number of armed bandits during multiple airstrikes in Tshohon Kabula community in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State on Monday morning.

    Reports say that many of the bandits were killed after an ealier  exchange of  gunfire with the state joint security taskforce in another local government  Gwada community of Shiroro local Government of the state.

    A source from the area said the Air Force airstrikes on the bandits location were conducted today at about 9:00am, which many were neutralized while others escaped with various degrees of injuries.

    Findings show that  the State Joint Security Taskforce had engaged the bandits in a gun battle along Gwada road on their way to Egwa village for an unknown mission which lasted for hours.

    It was gathered that it took a reinforcement of the joint security taskforce from Erena area to defeat those who were in large numbers even as three security personnel sustained injuries during the fight.

    Additional info from another source has it that  before the Sunday evening attack, the security agents were allegedly put on alert for a planned attack by the gunmen to the area.

    Recall two days ago, bandits killed a councilor representing Allawa Ward, Mallam Sale Yakubu while his personal assistant escaped.

    However, efforts to get reaction on the development from the state government and the state police spokesman, DSP Wasiu Abiodun failed as at the time of filing this report.

    The Nigeria Military is fighting really hard to ensure the environment is safe for forthcoming elections in the country.

  • Matawalle suspends Joint Task Force in Zamfara

    Matawalle suspends Joint Task Force in Zamfara

    The Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle has approved the immediate suspension of all the activities of the Joint Task Force on Zamfara State Road Traffic Agency (ZAROTA) headed by Col. Rabiu Garba Yandoto (rtd).

    According to a statement signed by a State Government spokesperson, Yusuf Gusau, the action followed the protest of the Tricycle Riders Association in the state last week while the governor was away in Abuja for an official engagement

    Yusuf said the governor has also directed for a full scale investigation into the circumstances that led to the protest with a view to advising the government on how best to restructure the agency for the overall interest of the people of the state.

    “The governor has also approved the suspension of all the activities of the agency pending the outcome of the investigation,” the statement said.

    “The joint task force is hereby directed to hand over all government properties in its possession to the office of the Secretary to the State Government with immediate effect.”

  • Joint Task Force destroys over 300 illegal refineries in Niger Delta

    Joint Task Force destroys over 300 illegal refineries in Niger Delta

    Rear Adm. Apochi Suleiman, the Commander, Joint Task Force codenamed: “Operation Delta Safe” (OPDS) says no fewer than 300 illegal refineries have been destroyed in the ongoing operation.

    Suleiman made this known to newsmen on Wednesday at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS), Warri Naval base.

    He said that a suspected militant and member of a “kill and bury” gang identified as Gift Apollo, who allegedly killed a soldier in August was also apprehended during the operations.

    The task force commander said that the operation tagged: “OPERATION 777” was launched by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin on Oct. 10 and accordingly activated by the OPDS.

    Suleiman said that it was to further reinvigorate the operations of the task force to disrupt activities of the criminal elements ahead of the yuletide and the 2019 general elections.

    The commander said the “OPERATION 777” had made remarkable achievement in meeting its objectives.

    “Cases of illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism and associated criminalities do increase during major festivities and election years.

    “This necessitated the launching of `OPERATION 777’ by the CDS and activated by the OPDS.

    “The `OPERATION 777’ has made huge achievement as over 300 illegal refineries, 156 locally manufactured boats, 1,085 surface tanks have been destroyed.

    “Additionally, 15 barges, 10 tanker trucks, 31 vehicles, 45 speed boats, 16 outboard engines, 41 pumping machines, 15 generating sets and 76 other items have been impounded.

    “It is also worthy to mention that six different types of arms and over 100 items of munitions were recovered during the period in focus.

    “Importantly, a wanted militant and member of `kill and bury’ gang named Gift Apollo was arrested during the operations.

    “The group was responsible for the attack and death of our soldier deployed in Abua/Odua sometime in August,” he said.

    Suleiman said that the JTF also conducted anti-illegal bunkering/anti-illegal refining operations at Okaki Community in Bayelsa in which over 100 reservoirs and an estimated 210 metric tonnes of Automated Gasoline Oil were destroyed.

    He also said that the JTF rescued seven Nigerians maintenance workers of Agip Oil Company who were kidnapped by gunmen on Oct. 5 in Azuzuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

    “OPERATION 777 is simultaneously conducted with OPERATION CROCODILE SMILE 3.

    “We are collaborating and sharing actionable intelligence as both operation is meant to curb criminal activities in the Niger Delta,” he said.

    Suleiman called on the law abiding citizens in the region to go about their legitimate businesses, assuring them that the JTF would continue to protect them and the environment.