Niger Delta: JTF engages oil thieves in gun battle

JTF

Operatives of the Joint Military Task Force (Operation Delta Safe), on Tuesday, engaged suspected oil thieves in a fierce gun duel in some communities in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

Spokesman of Operation Delta Safe, Major Ibrahim Abdullahi, described as untrue, allegations by some communities that they were harassed during the two-day operation that ended in the area yesterday.

He noted that the mandate of the body was to protect oil facilities in the region,

He said, “We have to be very careful with information. We have a mandate to protect oil and gas infrastructure, to deter and prevent militancy. We are here to protect the pipelines and the people.”

Mike Ikima, an indigene of one of the communities, said men of the JTF allegedly stormed Okerenkokogbone, Opuede communities in search of illegal bunkers, adding that the soldiers allegedly harassed community people.