[b] Militants go into hiding as CDS issues fresh order
By Sola Adebayo
Published: Sunday, 28 Sep 2008

Fresh fears have gripped militant groups in the Niger Delta region following the report that the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike, has given definite rules of engagement to the Joint Task Forces in the Niger Delta.

Most of their leaders have gone into hiding in view of the uncompromising posture of the CDS.

Findings by Sunday Punch revealed that Dike had dropped the subtle approach adopted by his predecessor, Gen. Owoye Azazi.

It was gathered that Dike was of the opinion that Owoye, an Ijaw of Bayelsa stock, treated his kinsmen with kid gloves while he lasted as helmsman in Defence Headquarters.

Dike was said to have given explicit order to the commanders of the two joint task forces in the region to flush out the militias from their creeks and hideouts.

It was noted that Dike asked the authorities of JTFs to apprehend the militant leaders dead or alive.

Investigation by Sunday Punch on Saturday showed that Dike has conveyed the order to the Commander of JTF, Operation Restore Hope, Brig.-Gen. Wuyep Rimtip, and his JTF, Operation Flush 111, Brig.-Gen. Sarkin Yarkin-Bello.

The Defence Headquarters in Abuja has provided logistics to facilitate the implementation of the order.

It was learnt that the facilities had been placed at the disposal of the authorities of JTF, Op RH, based at 93 Battalion, Effurun, Delta State and JTF, Op Flush Out 111, in Port Harcourt , the capital of Rivers State , for speedy actions.

It was further learnt that the fears of the militants were accentuated by the report that over 200 gunboats and many patrol crafts had been positioned for fresh attacks on identified militant camps in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States .

Sources at 93 Battalion told Sunday Punch that some militias, who suspected that they might be on the wanted list of DHQ, had fled their camps in anticipation of the imminent attacks.

Investigations showed that Dike specifically ordered the authorities of JTFs to apprehend popular militant leaders, Ateke Tom, Fara Dagogo and Kiti Kata, dead or alive.

It was learnt that the recent decision of the dreaded Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta to observe a “ceasefire” in the war with the federal troops was reportedly informed by the posture of DHQ to deal decisively with the militants.

The source in JTF, Op RH told our correspondent, “The new CDS is a no nonsense man and has changed the tactics of his predecessor, who probably handled the Niger Delta matters with caution because of his ethnic background.

“The new CDS has issued fresh orders to our commanders to treat the militant leaders and their followers like criminals and we are looking for some of them, including Ateke Tom, Fara Dagogo and Kiti Kata.

The source in JTF stated that the CDS was reportedly disturbed by the report that Kata was responsible for the recent killing of three soldiers attached to JTF Op RH in the creeks of Bayelsa State. The source further added that Kata later escaped to the camp of Dagogo in Rivers State where they jointly carried out nefarious activities.

Investigation revealed that recent military operations in Rivers State, was targeted at apprehending the three warlords.

”That is why JTF Flush Out is carrying out major military operations in Rivers State to apprehend these militant leaders as directed by the CDS. We are aware that the militant leaders and their disciples are living in fear that the JTFs are planning to attack them.

”Although some of the militias we are looking for have gone underground, we are still on their manhunt and definitely we must locate them. The detectives are desperately looking for them and definitely we are going to get them.

“The incident that pained the CDS most was the killing of three soldiers in mufti in Bayelsa State less than one month ago.

“Kiti Kata, who killed the soldiers later escaped to Rivers State where he joined hands with “Commander” Fara Dagogo to wreak further havoc. Actually we have been looking for them but the CDS has given a definite directive to our commanders to fish them out.

“The death of the two soldiers cannot be in vain and we are going to get the two of them to atone for their sins as directed by the CDS,” added one of our sources in JTF, who craved anonymity.

However, the Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre of JTF, Lt. Col. Rabe Abubakar, could not be reached for comment before press time on Saturday.
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Its about time right?