The Joint Military Task Force named ‘Operation Delta Safe’ has said that it would show no mercy for oil thieves and other criminals in the region.
Speaking on Sunday during the handover ceremony at the headquarters of the OPDS, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, Real Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade, the new Commander of the task force, who took over from Real Admiral Apochi Suleiman, promised criminal elements in the region that tough time awaits them.
While thanking the outgoing commander for his leadership style, Akinrinade assured the public that he would only add a proactive driven effort to curb all forms of criminalities and their networks.
One of these strategies, he explained, is strengthening the synergy and coercion among the various units, components and formations of the task force.
In his remarks, Rear Admiral Suleiman said the operation under his command destroyed and dislodged major militant camps in the Niger Delta, thereby boosting security in the region.
He said the relative peace in the area increased crude oil production, which has risen remarkably from a mere 900 barrels per day in 2016 to over two million barrels per day.
He said, “When I came here in 2016, there were issues of militancy all over my joint operation area but diligently, we have taken out the major militant camps in the Niger Delta region.
“We have dislodged militant camps at Karawei in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa. The Bakassi strike force in Cross River, Lobia 1, 2 and 3 in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and Lowasiri camps in Bayelsa were strong bases of militants and kidnappers.
“We have also dislodged militants in Etim Ekpo/Ukanafun Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom and restored peace to the areas. The Asuzuama set of militants in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Baylesa were all dislodged.
“We tracked down Don Wayne eventually, because of the pressure of our operational activities; he ran into the hands of another security group that eventually took him out. As of today, that camp at Amoputu is closed.”
Suleiman has been posted to Defence Headquarters, Abuja as Chief of Defence Administration.
