The joint military force deployed to the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe, on Friday said it foiled a kidnap attempt, freed two victims and arrested five suspected militants in multiple operations.

A statement signed by Lt.-Commander Thomas Otuji, Deputy Spokesman of the joint force, indicated that five suspected militants were arrested in the operations by several components of the force in the past 10 days. Several illegal refineries were also destroyed during the operations.

According to the statement, a detachment of Operation Delta Safe stationed in Delta State foiled an attempt by kidnappers on receipt of distress calls by members of the public.

The statement said: “Troops immediately swung into action and rescued the victims. One Mrs Vanessa Ilepi and Mrs Tega Okoro were kidnapped at Gun Point along Amukpe in Warri. One of suspects was arrested while 2 escaped.

“Effort is ongoing to apprehend the escaped suspected kidnappers. A locally cut to size made single barrel gun was recovered from the arrested kidnapper.”

The military further stated that in another development troops of Sector 1 Operation Delta Safe raided and destroyed illegal refineries sites at Opumami and Okogho creeks in Warri South and North local government areas of Delta State.

According to the statement, the operators of the illegal refinery abandoned the site and fled on sighting the patrol boats.

Items found and destroyed at the site include 16 cooking pots, two Cotonou boats filled with crude oil and four wooden shelters.

Also, one carton of 70mm ammunition, three pumping machines, two deep freezers, one generator and a 55 Horse Power Speed boat were found and destroyed at the site.

The statement disclosed that troops on Tuesday, October 4, discovered and destroyed illegal bunkering sites along Bille creek, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers during a routine patrol.

In a bid to flush out militants at Bakassi and Akpabuyo LGAs in Cross River, Special Boats Services have been deployed to degrade and fish out element of Bakassi Strike Force militants tormenting innocent citizens in the areas.

“Meanwhile, troops of Sector 4 of Operation Delta Safe while on patrol apprehended two suspected militants that stole two High Power outbound Boat Engines from boat operators.

“They were about selling the engines at Aqua Beach when our troops arrested them, the arrested suspects were subsequently handed over to Nigeria Police Force for further action,” the military stated.

In a related development, troops launched an operation based on a tip-off indicating that some suspected militants were spotted in a hideout at Okon Mkpa Community of Efut Esighi, Bakassi LGA.

The military said that “troops in company of the Special Boat Services immediately raided the criminals’ hideouts and apprehended three suspected militants.

“The following items were recovered at the scene, a Camry Toyota vehicle belonging to one of the suspected militants, sentry duty rosters, 73 wraps of substance suspected to be Indian hemp.

“A book containing over 30 names of suspected militants’ nominal roll for allowance payment scheduled was also found in the car.

“Preliminary investigation to ascertain the names in the book has commenced.”

•Photo shows a detachment of troops deployed to the Niger Delta.

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