War Planes, gun boats attack Delta creek

Compass

14 May 2011

War Planes, gun boats attack Delta creek

*Briton, Italian kidnapped in Kebbi

*German escapes by scaling fence

AFTER a brief lull, some creeks in Delta State are back on fire, military fire.

Also, hitherto sleepy Kebbi has joined the uneviable club of states where kidnappings have been recorded in the country.

On Thursday, a gang in the state kidnapped a Briton and an Italian, and left a large box of cash untouched, raising questions about the motive of the gang.

Two war planes and three gun boats were reported to have been deployed in the Boboughene creek of Ayakoromo, Burutu Local Government Area of the state where an all-out war has broken out between militants and officers of the joint Task Force (JTF).

The militants are believed to be led by a militant who once embraced amnesty, dropped arms, and has gone back to his old ways, General John Togo.

A major humanitarian challenge has developed, as the JTF officers who had of late been under attacks from the militants fought back to root out the Togo-led group.

Shootings reigned for about one hour yesterday afternoon and over 100 military personnel now occupy Bobougbene,

This has led to numerous persons, children and women being displaced.

The JTF, codenamed: “Operation Restore Hope,” took battle to the doorstep of the Togo group along the Ayakoromo coast.

But there were fears that Togo is being provided with JTF operational secrets and intelligence which had enabled him establish new camps along the Ayakoromo communities without hindrance.

Togo has struck thrice this week in an area of the creek largely being occupied by the JTF.