At least three persons were confirmed killed while others sustained
injuries when the Joint Task Force (Operation Pulo Shield), engaged
suspected militants in a gun duel in Delta State, The Cable reports.
The commander of the force, Alani Okunlola, disclosed this in Warri during a press briefing on Thursday.
Parading
a suspect allegedly arrested with various arms and ammunition, Okunlola
said the operation took place in Benigboye community of Burutu Local
Government Area of the state on September 5.
He said, “My men
raided a militant camp in Benigboye. On sighting the troops, the
suspects opened fire which led to a gun battle that lasted for 30
minutes before they fled the camp. In the follow up operation on
September 6, my troops, on getting information on the hideout of the
suspected militants that attacked Odimodi community, launched a search
operation and apprehended one Ebiwame Lamia.”
Okunola added that during preliminary investigation, Lamia confessed that he was in the camp during the previous raid.
He quoted Lamia as saying that three persons died in the gun battle while some escaped with bullet wounds.
The
commander said the JTF was in search of the fleeing suspects and urged
the people to assist the troops with useful information that could lead
to their arrest.
He listed weapons recovered from the camp to include medium machine gun, AK 47, light machine gun and AK 47 automatic rifle.
Okunola
added that other weapons recovered were SMG, G3 riffles, one single
barrel gun, and Improvised Explosive Device and an identity card.
He
said the recovered arms and ammunition were in the custody of his men.
The suspect, who claimed to be 17 years old, told reporters that he was a
cook in the camp of the militants.
