Samuel Oyadongha
25 June 2012, Sweetcrude, YENAGOA – OPERATIVES of Joint Task Force in the oil-rich Niger Delta codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, have smashed a seven-man gang pirates terrorizing commuters along the River Ramos on the Atlantic fringe of Agge in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Six members of the gang were reportedly killed in a shoot out between men of JTF and the hoodlums while one other escaped.
A source told Sweetcrude that JTF operatives were on routine patrol of the river and adjoining creeks, following report of the unwholesome activities of pirates in the area when they came face to face with the hoodlums.
It was learnt that the hoodlums on sighting the JTF patrol team opened fire on them and the soldiers responded and killed six members of the gang. A member of the gang reportedly escaped with gun shot wounds.
Relieved residents of the coastal enclave, it was learnt, yesterday, besieged the Agge base of the security outfit to catch a glimpse of the deceased suspects.
Contacted, Media Coordinator of JTF, Lt-Col Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the incident, saying six members of the gang were killed.
He said: “About 5pm on June 23, troops of JTF Operation Pulo Shield at Agge while on patrol along River Ramos encountered a gang of seven suspected pirates. On sighting our troops, the pirates opened fire and our patrol troops immediately returned fire. Six pirates were killed in the encounter while one escaped into the river with gun shot wounds.”
Items recovered from the hoodlums, included one 200 horse power speedboat, two single barrel gun, seven mobile phones, two hack saw blades, four wraps of substance suspected to be Indian hemp and four torchlights.
