Operatives of the Operation Delta Safe made a ground-breaking raid of a militant camp on Wednesday during which they arrested three suspected members of the Niger Delta Avengers, who were part of the group that attacked 343 troops located at Nembe.
The Avengers had attacked the troops on August 8, 2016, and killed four soldiers.
However, the ODS operatives led by Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie, acting on a tip-off, were able to track them to their camp at Epebu Creek in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa.
THISDAY exclusively gathered that the ODS had carried out a search and rescue operation based on a tip-off from well-placed citizens in the area.
Acting on that, the three suspects were arrested at Ogboinbiri, and preliminary interrogation of them revealed that they were part of the gang that attacked and killed some soldiers.
It was based on other subsequent information ferreted out of the suspects that the taskforce was able to carry out a raid on Epebu Creeks.
Using the element of surprise to their advantage, the troops were able to decimate the camp, recorded no casualty on their part and also recovered a large cache of weapons and ammunition.
THISDAY gathered that the ODS taskforce was able to recover nine AK 47 rifles, one FN rifle, four HK 21 machine guns, one G3 machine gun, three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), 20 AK 47 magazines, two G3 magazines, one FN magazine, one gun powder container, one Epenal gun boat, a large quantity of ammunition 7.62 NATO and special.
A military source who spoke on anonymity to THISDAY said the arrest was a morale booster for the troops, adding that it doesn’t mean they have relaxed their guard, but that they are still closely monitoring the situation.
