THE federal government, Monday, dispatched five warships, 100 gunboats and fighter jets to the creeks of the Niger Delta.

<a href="http://.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/fighterjet.jpeg"><img title="Fighterjet.jpeg" class="alignnone size-full" alt="image" src="http://.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/fighterjet.jpeg" /></a>

This is in response to ongoing attacks on oil and gas pipelines by Niger Delta Avengers, NDA.

While the Airforce deployed the fighter jets and helicopter gunships, the Army stormed four more Ijaw communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, for the militants.

“There is a massive security operation going on in the area. Fighter jets and helicopter gunships have been hovering around the airspace at low level, apparently on surveillance mission. Many of the natives are worried about the development,” said Ayebatari, an indigene of the area.

Commander, NNS Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, confirmed, yesterday, that the security agencies were now working in synergy to flush out the Avengers from the region.

He said: “We (Navy) use helicopter. If you spot it, you will clearly identify it as belonging to us. You see Navy written on it. The jet fighters and surveillance craft were deployed by Air Force to watch over the high risk areas against activities of the oil assets vandals and anyone else involved in criminality in the area.

“There is now strengthened synergy among the security agencies to stop this vandalism. The synergy is there. I will advise those involved to steer clear and employ peaceful ways of agitating and engaging their minds.”

The fighter jets and surveillance aircraft were also seen flying around communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom and Ogulagha area in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State about 10A.M

The military planes were also sighted in some of the communities in Southern Ijaw area where most of the attacks on pipelines and killing of soldiers occurred recently.

A resident from Ondewari said the sight and sounds of the jets caused tension in the area.

He said some residents were already getting ready to seek refuge in the mangrove following fears of possible bombardments when the jets disappeared.

“We noticed the jets in the morning. They were military jets. We were afraid and most people were thinking of taking cover when suddenly they flew away. We are still afraid that they may come back. We can’t forget the Odi experience”, he said.

But the umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) immediately condemned the presence of the fighter jets in the creeks.

The IYC President, Mr. Udens Eradiri, after an emergency meeting of the council, in Yenagoa, said the jets were also sighted in some parts of the state capital and Gbaramatu in Delta State.

He urged the military to apply caution in their operations and warned against the strategy of intimidating the Niger Delta residents.

Eradiri insisted that the crisis would not be resolved by deploying fighter jets. He was also the same person who had said government should open the Maritime University in Tompolo's town for peace.


http://.com/fg-dispatch-5-warships-100-gunboats-fighter-jets-to-battle-niger-delta-avengers/

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