By Sampson Boroh
Operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) codenamed Operation Delta Safe have reportedly ransacked Bilabiri Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State where the key suspect behind the killing of four naval ratings fortnight ago during the abduction of some expatriates was reportedly hiding.
It was learnt that the suspect, who was said to be hiding in the area, was reportedly killed in the Friday’s operation at the Ijaw community around the border communities of Bayelsa and Delta States.
Recall that suspected sea pirates had reportedly killed four naval personnel who were escorting an oil servicing vessel to Bayelsa State around Rumus River and abducted three expatriates who was on board in the vessel.
Reports from the community indicate that the raid in such of the pirate kingpin and his gang members had led to the burning of some buildings in the community.
The JTF operatives who were said to have stormed the community in tens of military gunboats were rebuffed by their targets, a situation that resulted in sporadic shooting in the community.
The incident, it was learnt, forced residents of the riverine village to flee into the creeks for safety.
The operatives who stormed the community at about 10am were said to have arrested several suspects while unsubstantiated reports had it that several persons were killed in the clash.
The troops, according to sources, claimed that they were on the trails of hoodlums behind the killing of some service men two weeks ago along the Ramos River.
The military operation in the volatile area was said to have lasted more than three hours causing many residents to flee their homes and took refuge in the mangrove.
Meanwhile, the Ekeremor Federated Youth Council (EFYC) frowned on the ongoing destruction of Bilabiri community by soldiers.
EFYC’s President, Etolor Prince, described the action of the military as unprofessional.
“The ongoing military invasion at Bilabiri community is one too many occurrence in Ekeremor LGA and It is so sad that I have to once again condemn this continuous unprofessional act of the Nigerian military at the slightest provocation.
“It is so sad and annoying to note that, one will never see them carrying out this practice in the north where our brothers in the military are killed on duty every now and then but our case here is nothing to write home about. They (military) should know that this approach is nothing working and will never work.
“Please, it is high time the legal luminaries in our region stood up to this injustice meted on our people. I strongly believe, legal actions can go a long way to tackle this menace.
“At this juncture, please permit me to sympathize with the people of Bilabiri I & II communities for the loss and I urge government at all levels most especially well meaning leaders to immediately come to the aid of our people in any way possible to cushion the immediate hardship caused by this attack”.
Meanwhile, the authorities of the ODS and the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, whose men were killed by the pirates are yet to react to the alleged invasion of the community and subsequent burning of houses in the community.
Efforts to speak with the spokesman of ODS, Eromosele Unuakhalu, proved abortive as repeated calls to his telephone line rang out even as at the time of filing this report.
