The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Bayelsa, Operation Pulo Shield, on Thursday said its troops stormed the hideouts of suspected kidnappers in Bayelsa state destroying their hideout and recovering their arms and ammunitions.

According to a communiqué issued by Lt. Col Mustapha Anka, Media Coordinator of the JTF, “the State in recent times has become a den for criminals' activities ranging from kidnapping, sea piracy, pipeline vandalization and oil theft. The activities of the hoodlums also extended to neighbouring communities of Azuzama and Ekeni in Ekeremor LGA of the state. These criminals cash on the difficult terrain in the region to perpetuate crimes in the creek.

The Media Coordinator stated that the operation was ordered by JTF Commander, Maj. Gen Emmanuel Atewe, following rising insecurity in waterways in the state.

Anka explained that the operation by Operation Pulo Shield’s anti-illegal bunkering squad was led by Commanding Officer OF 5 Battalion, Lt. Col. Shu’aibu Nuhu, in collaboration with the Air Component of the task force Stormed a Camp at Meibegbemo located at Zobia of Faropo community of southern Ijaw LGA dislodging the camp, recovering arms and ammunition before setting it ablaze.

 “During a shootout miscreants escaped to the creeks with several gunshot wounds sustained during the exchange of fire. No arrest was made but caches of arms and ammunition were recovered.

“Other items include six fiber boats with 75hp bow out engine mounted on them, 7 pieces 65hp engine, 12 pieces of mattress, two generating sets, 4 smoke grenade and 5 cell phones with 15 SIM cards of various phone operators, food stuff, refrigerators, freezers and video camera with microphone belonging to African World Web Television presumed to belong to a victim of the criminals were recovered,”

The statement further said that occupants of the destroyed camp were responsible for pirate attacks on vessels, boats and ferries plying through the Forupa channel, while their kidnapped victims were kept in the camp.

Anka said that the operation had since restored peace and normalcy to the creeks.