The newly launched military operation in the Niger Delta, code-named ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ has netted Isaac Romeo, alleged to be the kingpin of a terrorist group in the area, Niger Delta Avengers.
The military also arrested an important economic saboteur, one Mr Gabriel Ogbudje, alleged to be responsible for the attack on the NPDC/Shoreline major delivery trunk line within Ogo-Oteri general area on the 26th of August.
The Nigerian Army, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Col Sani Usman, the confirmed arrests. According to Usman, troops of the 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, in conjunction with Nigerian Navy, Air Force and covert operatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), arrested Romeo (alias G2) in a camp of terrorists.
Romeo was arrested along with two other persons, Mr Lawson Samson and an elderly man, Mr Iyang Ekpo in Calabar, Cross State, while they were driving in a vehicle with registration number, CRS 86 AO1, on Saturday, September 3, 2016.
He further disclosed that Ogbudje, an ex-militant, was believed to be the leader of the Otugas Fire Force, a militant group threatening to attack Utorogu Gas Plant.
‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ was recently launched in the Niger Delta region by the Nigerian Army to curtail the spate of crime and all forms of militancy.
Since its inception less than three weeks, security operatives have arrested many Niger Delta militants as well as oil thieves. In the last five days, troops have arrested two top leaders of two of the militant groups, including Ogbudje, and three of their accomplices.
Usman, in a statement yesterday, said Ogbudje’s arrest followed painstaking efforts and tracking of the militant who was in the state to perpetrate further criminal activities of sabotaging critical infrastructure.
He said the suspect was trailed and arrested by troops along Agbor-Abraka road, Edo State, on Tuesday, September 6, 2016.
According to him, the suspect has been on the run since he was declared wanted because of his public declaration as the leader of the militant group, Otugas Fire Force, and his subsequent declaration of the threat, code named ‘Crocodile Tears’, which was published in the newspapers, while the Brigade was engaged with the military field training exercise, ‘Operation Crocodile Smile.’
The army spokesman further revealed that the terror suspect was arrested along with his accomplice, Mr Elvis Dweller Ejus, and handed to ‘Operation Delta Safe’ for further interrogation and subsequent handover to the relevant security agency for prosecution.
Militants in the Niger Delta have caused untold destruction to crude oil production by bombing of oil facilities which have reduced Nigeria daily production to about 800,000 barrels per day since the beginning of the year.
