Operatives of the Ministry Joint Taskforce (JTF), code named “Operation DELTA SAFE” has killed a notorious militant warlord otherwise known as ‘General’ Ossy Ibori during a gun duel along Ajakpa community in the creeks of Southern Ondo State last night Sunday.
During the gun battle, HardReporters reliably gathered that one gallant soldier lost his life while three others are said to be in a critical condition resulting from sustained gun wounds and currently receiving medical attention at a military hospital.
Speaking with our correspondent, spokesman of the taskforce who said the task force is working in line with its mandate to rid Niger Delta of all criminal acts of militancy and kidnappings in the region disclosed that the militant warlord who has his hideout at Ajakpa, Ese-Odo Local government area of Ondo State led attack against troops but he was gunned down during ensuing gun battle alongside some of his gang members.
“His body was identified by some of the locals in the area. One gallant soldier was killed while three others sustained gun wounds, during the gun battle. Though, the injured soldiers have since been moved to military hospital for proper medical attention.”
It was learnt the troops recovered one AK-47 Rifle and 4 Magazines from the operation while search for other criminals who jumped into the water with gunshot wounds is ongoing.
Ibori and his criminals gang was said in addition to have carried out several attacks at Ese-Odo community around Ajakpa, Safarogbo and Balowo areas.
In a statement obtained by HardReporters said, signed by Major Abubakar Abdullahi, Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Center of the JTF said “The need to flush them out from their hideout became necessary to ensure peace and security in Ondo state. The militant group had boasted that it was rich enough to fight the Federal Government as it had acquired thousands of military grade arms and ammunition, which would be deployed in disrupting the economy within Lagos and Ogun states, should the Federal Government fails to dialogue with them and grant their wishes.”
Major Abdullahi, however appealed to law abiding residents of the affected communities to remain calm, vigilant and support the troops with valuable information on the whereabouts of other fleeing suspects.
In October 2016, the militant group, notorious for pipeline vandalism, kidnapping and bank robberies, had demanded for amnesty, after threatening to disrupt the economy within Lagos and Ogun states if the Federal Government did not dialogue with it and grant its members pipeline protection contracts.
The leader of the militant group, “General” Ibori, who coordinated most of the bank robberies and high profile kidnappings, including that of three schoolgirls at Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School in Ikorodu, four landlords at Isheri North, Oniba of Ibaland, Oba Goriola Oseni and many others within Lagos and Ogun states, boasted in an interview that his group had over 21 “generals” commanding 7,800 battle-ready boys.
