Muhammad Bello
10 July 2009
Port Harcourt — The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta region foiled an attempt by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to blow an Agip Well at Tebidaba by militants yesterday.
JTF spokesman, Rabe Abubakar said the attack was prevented, following a tip-off.
"The armed bandits fled leaving the explosives strapped to the oil well head. Efforts are on by the company to get explosive experts to help diffuse it," Abubakar said.
The task force denied that MEND had blown up any pipeline in the area, although the movement has not taken responsibility for any attack since the one it said it carried out in Nembe, Bayelsa State on Wednesday. JTF described as 'gimmicks' the attacks by the militants on oil installations, stressing that it was an attempt to claim cheap glory and portray the region as volatile because they were feeding on the crises.
The JTF pipeline patrol team also arrested two pipeline saboteurs while they were trying to plant explosives along the Forcados Waterways in Delta State. Equipments recovered from them include; a speed boat, two electrical batteries, chemicals and dynamite.
The names of the saboteurs are Messer Omole Sedimigho - 44 years from Warri-South L.G.A and Reuben Gbotonye - 36 years from Warri-South Westall in Delta State.
"The arrest of these two militants who MEND claimed were repentant militants who wanted to surrender to the JTF and were later nabbed is an indication that they (MEND) are bent on confusing the atmosphere of peace as proclaimed by the government, thereby frustrating the efforts of the government in bringing peace and economic revival to the region.
If these two miscreants were actually repentant militants, what were they doing with the equipments found on them at midnight in the area where major pipelines are located? If MEND said they were surrendering, who were they surrendering to at that odd time and place? Is that location the JTF headquarters or arms collecting centre for the amnesty," the JTF said.
Colonel Abubakar also denied claims by MEND that the soldiers had direct contact with militants who wished to surrender, saying it was not within its mandate to do so. MEND has also denied any interaction with Dr. Chris Ekiyor, president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) over the attacks or the amnesty offer.
He said MEND had outlined its strategy as far as its operations were concerned, pointing out that whenever they decide on a delegate, it would be made public.
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