JTF kills 4 ‘pirates’, frees abducted soldier

The joint military taskforce deployed to protect oil facilities in the Niger Delta, ‘Operation Pulo Shield’, has killed four suspected pirates and freed an abducted soldier in Bayelsa.

Isa Ado, spokesman of the force, confirmed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital.

Ado said the feat was achieved in multiple operations conducted by the military in March 2016.

He said the soldier, whose name was not mentioned, was kidnapped along the Nembe waterways on March 24.

Ado revealed that the soldier was currently receiving medical treatment in Nembe, while efforts were underway to arrest the fleeing abductors.

He said the force also arrested medical personnel who specialised in treating wounded militants and sea pirates after exchange of gun battle with the military.

“It was revealed from our source that the medical worker has been operating in the creeks for long and providing medical service to the pirates and militants at a medical facility at Okiama Village in Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa,” the statement read.

“He was responsible for the treatment of the wounded sea pirates and their leader who recently engaged troops of the joint force in a shootout along Nembe water ways in Bayelsa.

“During the encounter, four of the sea pirates were killed while others sustained injuries.

“However, they ran out of luck as troops on getting the information cordoned off the area and arrested the medical worker while the wounded pirates escaped before the arrival of troops.”