Suspected Militants Arrested at PH

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Rivers State has arrested 219 suspected militants during an early morning raid on notorious water front settlements used by militants as hide-outs in Port-Harcourt, the state capital.

Brig. Gen. Bello Sarkin Yaki, the JTF commander in Rivers State disclosed this yesterday, during an interactive session with journalists. The arrests are coming on the heels of the unilateral ceasefire declared by militants on Sunday, in the state after a week of gun fights between the military and militants during which the military commander confirmed seven militants were
killed.

He said the suspected militants were arrested at Abonema, Diobu, UTC, Njemanze, Afikpo, Nnaka, Timber Market and Ekuele water fronts in Port-Harcourt, adding that the dawn raid was carried out based on intelligence reports available to the special military task force. Bello said the suspects, who were arrested in what he described as known "bad spots" have been handed over to the police for prosecution.

Our correspondent reports that the pre-emptive move by the military task force is to thwart attempts by militants, alleged to be re-grouping in various parts of Port-Harcourt, preparatory to unleashing a reign of violence and terror on innocent citizens, having been dislodged from the creeks by the military.

While reinstating the preparedness of the JTF to continue its clamp down on known bases and other spots used by militants to perpetuate their activities, he assured that the military task force is committed to restoring law and order to Rivers State.

The JTF commander said 99.9 per cent of the camps operated by militants in the state have been identified by the special military unit, saying, "We know where they are and they are at our finger tips".

On the truce declared by the militants, Brig. Gen. Bello said while the military top brass in the country welcome the development, the ceasefire, he however explained, would not prevent the JTF from discharging its responsibility of maintaining security in all parts of the state, whether on land or water.

He, therefore, advised the militants to go beyond the ceasefire and lay down their arms and explore peaceful alternatives to channel their demands to the Federal Government. Bello dismissed insinuations that the military killed civilians and attacked civilian habitations during the clashes with militants in the state, adding that the JTF has rules of engagement and a code of conduct that guides its operations.

(AllAfrica)