Niger/Delta: JTF repels attack, kills three suspected pirates

The Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta (Operation Pulo Shield) on Tuesday said three suspected pirates died during a cross-fire with the group at Robot creeks in Nembe local government area of Bayelsa State. JTF Media Coordinator, Lt. Col. Mustapha Anka, told the journalists in Yenagoa that some 30 pirates, armed with AK-47 riffles in two speedboats, attacked the JTF patrol troop.

Anka said that in repelling the attack, a soldier in the patrol and two boat operators were injured.

He said the troops also raided and destroyed illegal oil bunkering site at Okpoko Creek in Warri South local government area of Delta, seizing nine Cotonou boats loaded with stolen crude oil.

Bayelsa panic over Atlantic Ocean surge

Fear has gripped Koluama people in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa as a result of Atlantic Ocean surge that is threatening to swallow the communities.

It was learnt that the tidal current of the sea rose, overflowed its banks and emptied into the Koluama River.
Already, residents of the communities located along the banks of Koluama River were reportedly exposed to the direct attack of waves and tidal currents from the sea.

On Thursday traditional rulers of the communities, struck by fear, rushed to Yenagoa, the state capital, to raise the alarm over the threats by the sea to wash away the communities.

Israeli ambassador: We’ll support Nigeria to end insurgency

The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Uriel Palti, has condemned acts of terrorism in Nigeria, especially the kidnap of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State. Palti called for the immediate release of the abducted girls and assured the Federal Government of Israel’s support at putting an end to the acts of terrorism in the country.

The ambassador said this during a visit to Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson at the Government House, Yenagoa, on Sunday. “The state of Israel condemns the kidnap of over 200 school girls in the northeast of Nigeria. We demand their immediate release. We will support the Federal Government in its efforts to end terrorism in the country,” he said.

Dickson and his wife, Rachel, were presented with two different awards by the visiting Israeli ambassador and his team. The governor was awarded with the title, ‘Jerusalem Ambassador’ while the wife was presented with the ‘Mother in Israel in Bayelsa’ award.

Unknown gunmen kidnap couples in Bayelsa

Unknown gunmen on Tuesday at Konga, an Akassa fishing community off the Atlantic coast of Brass in Bayelsa East senatorial district kidnapped, Mr. and Mrs Joel Kido, parents of a maritime businessman in the area. But Mr. Joel Kido, aged 65, father of the businessman was said to have jumped into the sea and escaped from his captors.

The armed gunmen, numbering about eight  stormed the residence of the couples at 12 midnight while they were asleep and marched them to their waiting speedboat.

Mr. Joel managed to escape from his abductors but his wife was not that lucky as she was whisked away to an unknown destination.

Kidnappers free Jonathan’s uncle in Bayelsa; six suspects arrested

The Police in Bayelsa have rescued Chief Nengite Nitabai, 70, President Goodluck Jonathan’s uncle kidnapped on Feb. 23. Commisioner of Police in the State, Mr Hilary Okara, who confirmed the development in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Yenagoa on Thursday, said Nitabai was freed in Odioma community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

Nitabai, a community leader in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area, was freed unharmed and had re-united with his family.

Police Commissioner said; “We rescued Nitabai from Odioma coastal settlement and as I speak with you, I am with him in his house in Otuoke,” 

Okpara said six suspects, including a traditional ruler believed to be the father of the leader of the gang, were arrested in connection with the abduction.

Okpara had on Wednesday dispelled rumours that the septuagenarian had died in the hands of his abductors and assured that the police were closing in on the hoodlums.