JTF Vows To Flush Out Remnant Of MEND

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger-Delta, code named “Operation Restore Hope”, has vowed to flush out remnants of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger-Delta (MEND) from creeks in the region.

JTF spokesman, Col. Rab Abubakar said in an on-line message that the backbone of MEND had been broken with the recent military onslaught in parts of the Niger-Delta.

“We have broken the backbone of the MEND and now on the verge of flushing out remnants of the so-called militant group from creeks across the Niger-Delta”, the message read in part.

The message also described the purported escape of MEND leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias “Tompolo” to Ukrain as another media propaganda by MEND and its benefactors to distract the JTF from tracking him down and bringing him to face justice.

“With ;each passing day, we are getting nearer to him and sooner than later, we will get, him,” the JTF spokesman stated.

Meanwhile, there were strong indications that the recent military onslaught in the Niger Delta may have exposed the weakness, rivalry and division among some of the militant groups operating in the Niger Delta creeks.

According to an informed source which has been monitoring the activities of some of the militants in the Niger Delta, a splinter group from MEND had before the recent military onslaught declared war against some of its renegades.

The source stated that that names of MEND members were sometime last year, listed as renegades who had betrayed the cause of MEND.

The source stated that men like Ibitimi Blackman Harry, Segun Johnson Adu, Osa Thompson Osifoh Ero and Edafe Williams Arinze whose whereabouts were still unknown, once played a role in the activities of a splinter militant group in the Niger Delta until they had differences with the leadership of the group.

“It was alleged that these men ran away with some undisclosed amount of money belonging to the group which was meant for the procurement of arms and ammunition,” the source stated.

It added that some close relatives of these men were harassed while not less than two persons were shot dead by the group during one of its operations.

It also added that some of these men were among those wanted by the Joint Task Force for questioning to ascertain their level of involvement in the militant activities in the Niger-Delta.