Defence chief says aviation fuel scarcity hampering counter-terrorism operations in North-east Army finds five of the soldiers missing after Boko Haram ambush
Senator Iroegbu in Abuja
Armed groups behind the onslaught on the oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta suffered a major blow last week as the Department of State Services announced yesterday that it had arrested a key militant leader suspected to be the brains behind some recent devastating attacks. Jones Abiri aka General Akotebe Darikoro, the leader of the Joint Revolutionary Council of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, according to the DSS, was arrested on July 21 in Yenagoa.
Darikoro was alleged to have coordinated the vandalism of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company trunk line at Ogboinbiri, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, and the bombing on July 8 of an oil pipeline belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company at Brass Creek, all in Bayelsa State. The attack on the two oil facilities caused a huge setback in the country’s crude oil production.
DSS said the arrested militant leader was also the architect of the recent rumour about a plan to overthrow the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. The rumour had rankled with the authorities, leading to crucial security meetings.
In a related development, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, said lack of aviation fuel was hindering the military’s counter-insurgency operations against the Boko Haram sect in the North-east. Olonisakin spoke on Thursday in Abuja during a courtesy visit to him by the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, led by the Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru. The CDS appealed to NNPC to intervene to ensure adequate supply of the needed Jet A1.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army confirmed yesterday that five of the 19 officers and men declared missing in action on Friday in Borno State had been found. The troops had been ambushed by Boko Haram terrorists on July 20 at Guro Gongon Village, in Borno State. Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said the soldiers, which included the commanding officer, were followed during a search and rescue operation by the Nigerian Army.
DSS said its recent breakthroughs were part of on-going deliberate operations to destroy the capabilities and sanctuaries of criminal elements across the country. A statement by the spokesman of the service, Mr. Tony Opuiyo, said Darikoro, who operated under the assumed name, “General-Kill and Bury”, also admitted to having sent: “Threat messages to managements of NAOC and SPDC demanding for the payment of the sum of N500 million and N250 million, respectively:
“Threat to launch missile attacks against selected targets in Abuja, including the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock.”
Opuiyo said another suspected militant, Stephen Mamayebo, aka Oscar, was arrested on July 21 at OMPADEC Primary School in Yenagoa. Mamayebo was alleged to be involved in the kidnap of an expatriate staff of Setraco Construction Company, and murder of two soldiers.
He stated that three suspected kidnappers, Ismaila Shuaibu, Kabiru Nasiru, and Inusa Abdullahi, were arrested on July 20 at Travellers Mosque, along Kaduna-Zaria Highway, in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“The trio were members of a notorious kidnap gang which has been terrorising innocent citizens along the Abuja-Kaduna highway, and other environs within Kaduna State,” Opuiyo stated.
The DSS spokesman also reported the arrest of one Chukwunyere Austin Okwaa on July22 at Total Petrol Station, along Aba Road in Port Harcourt. Okwaa was alleged to have sent death threats to the former acting managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari.
On the war against terrorism, Opuiyo said DSS apprehended one Bulama Mohammed Ramat aka Muhammad Bashir Muhammadu at Jabi Motor Park, in Utako, Abuja on July 21. He was said to be “planning to attack the Federal Capital Territory and its environs, in collaboration with other elements of an extremist cell of the Boko Haram group.”
Opuiyo said a raid on June 22 on suspected criminal hide-outs, behind Ado Bayero Quarters at Naibawa area of Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State, led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle with 28 rounds of live ammunition, one Browning model pistol with two rounds of live ammunition, and a P5 pistol with 10 rounds of live ammunition.
On July 22, DSS arrested one Saidu Yahaya during the screening of prospective Hajj pilgrims at the Muslim Pilgrims Board in Jos, Opuiyo stated, saying, “Yahaya has been under the radar of the service as a black-market and illegal gunrunner who has been supplying arms and ammunitions to criminal and ethnic/religious bigots in Plateau, Taraba, Benue and Nassarawa states.”
Other arrests recently made by DSS, according to Opuiyo, include that on July 19 of one Samson Chijioke Nzegwu, said to be illegally using forged paraphernalia of Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to defraud members of the public.
He said DSS on July 17 arrested one Esan Abiodun Christopher aka Maiyegun at Idi-Mango Ore area in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. Christopher was alleged to be a member of the Reuben Akinbehinje gang that masterminded the kidnap of two Catholic nuns and their driver in Akure. “The suspect was apprehended while coordinating plans to hijack fuel-supply tankers in Oyo State,” Opuiyo said.
To aid the aerial operations by the Nigerian Air Force, which have helped to considerably degrade Boko Haram’s capabilities, especially around the Lake Chad Basin, Olonisakin called for assistance from NNPC in the supply of aviation fuel.
“Our operations in the North-east are having a challenge with the scarcity of Jet A1 fuel in Maiduguri. We are appealing to you to help us make it available,” the CDS the NNPC team, which visited him in Abuja. He reiterated the military’s commitment to the security of oil facilities in the Niger Delta and other areas of interest.
On the planned exploration of oil in the Lake Chad Basin and River Benue, Olonisakin asked for patience, saying the military is still trying to ensure that the area is safe for such project.
Speaking on the resurgent militancy in the Niger Delta, the CDS said the military operation under Delta Safe would be in line with the larger security strategy planned for the maritime sector, which will factor in private security operatives.
According to him, “We have been cooperating on a lot of issues concerning the protection of pipelines. Along the line the issue of private security arrangement came up. We supported it to have a comprehensive protection arrangement. The one on land is a bit different but needs to be re-equipped and fine-tuned.
“We need to fine-tune plans for private security companies that are coming up. We are not averse to that arrangement but we need to fine-tune it so that it can be a comprehensive one.”
The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj-Gen. Leo Irabor, had on Friday announced that troops and some Civilian JTF personnel returning from a clearing operation were ambushed by Boko Haram terrorists at Gongon village in Algarno forest general area. Irabor said the troops fought back and killed many terrorists, but 16 soldiers and three CJTF operatives were wounded in action. He disclosed that some others, including the Commanding Officer, were missing in action.
But in a statement yesterday, Usman said, “We wish to inform you that the search party has this morning found five more officers and soldiers that were declared missing in action, including the unit’s Commanding Officer.”
