The Nigerian military services stepped up their onslaught against
suspected militants and pipeline vandals operating in Arepo and Ibafo
areas of Ogun State on Saturday, and successfully destroyed 75 camps
operated by the vandals.
The military action, which began around midmorning with the arrival
of helicopters belonging to both the Nigeria Airforce and Nigeria Police
over the operational area, lasted for a number of hours as ground
forces moved in to flush out the vandals who have not only siphoned
products from the pipelines crisscrossing the areas but also attacked
and raped civilians living in the vicinity.
Sunday Telegraph exclusively learnt from a military official attached
to ‘Operation Awatse’ the name of assignment to flush out the
militants, that the ground forces were directed to the various camps by
the helicopters, which provided aerial surveillance for the land forces.
According to eyewitnesses, although the police helicopter was the
normal unarmed version, the NAF chopper was seen carrying weapons
although the witness could not say if they were used because he did not
hear any explosions like he did last weekend when the intensity of the
assault on the militants was stepped up with airstrikes.
“I was forced to come out of my house when I heard the sound of a
helicopter flying low, I immediately remembered what happened last
weekend when the helicopter was followed with the sounds of missiles
being fired and subsequent explosions of the bombs striking there
targets.
However, this time around I didn’t hear any such explosions; but the
helicopters, two of them – one had ‘Nigeria Police’ clearly inscribed on
its underbelly while the second one was an Air Force Chopper – stayed
in the area much longer.”
The witness said he noticed that the helicopters were going back and
forth for quite some time before they left the area. When Sunday
Telegraph called an official were attached to ‘Operation Awatse’ for
confirmation; we told that the helicopters had carried out
‘reconnaissance’ mission for the ground forces.
“The helicopters carried out both surveillance and reconnaissance
operation for us. From their vantage position in the area they were able
to scout out where the camps were and if the enemy were there.
“Once they did this they informed us and we then moved in to the area
where we raided the camps and destroyed and burnt 75 of them before
leaving. “We shall continue the exercise until we destroy and eliminated
all their activities around border between Ogun and Lagos states,” said
the military officer.
The Federal Government authourised military action to be taken
against the militants and vandals following continued reports of their
dastardly actions in Ikorodu, Igando, Arepo and Ibafo areas.
The military onslaught began on the evening of July 28 with an aerial
bombardment of the militants’ strongholds by the Nigeria Air Force
which used both attack helicopters and alpha jet fighters.
Since the suppression of the activities of the militants by the
military, the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun and acting Inspector
General of Police, Ibrahim Idris have visited the areas to see things
for themselves first hand.
After visiting the areas, Amosun then instructed that anything within
500 feet of the creeks should be destroyed which would allow the
security agencies a clear view of what was going on around the areas
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