JTF arrests alleged killers of 6 soldiers, recovers cache of arms

The Joint Task Force (JTF) named Op­eration Pulo Shield has arrested five suspected pirates believed to be behind the attack on a JTF fibre boat and killing of three soldiers.

Six soldiers had been killed in a space of 72 hours by suspected pirates at San­ta Barbara River and Azag­bene community.

Checks indicated that the Defence Headquarters, worried over the attack on the soldiers had directed the JTF Commander, Major General Emmanuel Atewe to fish out the soldiers’ kill­ers.

The anti-kidnapping and sea robbery squad of the JTF acting on intelligence reports immediately swung into ac­tion.

They invaded Ukubie community where it carried out a weeklong operation after which five suspected pirates believed to have car­ried out the deadly attacks on military personnel and civilians were arrested after a shoot-out.

Investigations revealed that some of the suspected pirates escaped but the JTF team arrested five of them and whisked them to its headquarters at Yenagoa.

The media coordinator of the JTF, Col. Mustapha Anka, who paraded the suspects at the JTF head­quarters, said a cache of arms was recovered from the bandits.