According to The Nation, the deployment was made by the Joint Task Force, JTF, Operation Delta Safe, ODS, following recent attacks by militants on oil pipelines.
The troops, it was learnt, were ordered to find and dismantle all the active militant camps used as operational bases by the militants.
At Sand-Sand Fishing Camp, a creek in Nembe, it was gathered that the troops came in contact with members of a militant group who were making efforts to activate a dismantled militant camp.
A source from the ODS who spoke in condition of anonymity said the militants were trying to reactivate the camp to use it as a satellite base to constantly attack oil facilities located at the Nembe-Brass waterways.
He said, “It was not an easy operation because the militants were armed to the teeth. But we overpowered them and killed one of their leaders, popularly known as Edoboy. We are still pursuing others who fled into the creeks.
“They run into the communities whenever they are being pursued and mix up making it difficult to identify them.
“The communities are always afraid to identify them and most times, these hoodlums use them to make statements accusing JTF of violating their human rights.
“We are very professional and will not engage in any action or conduct that will drag the name of the military in the mud.”
