NIGERIAN ARMY RELIVES OPERATION, VOW TO PROTECT INNOCENT CITIZENS AND PROPERTY
Emeka Amaefula
Saturday 15th of June, 2019 was a memorable day that made Rivers state a Theater of Cultists’ war as illegal oil bunkering kingpin Mene was killed in an Army operation in Ogoniland in Rivers state Nigeria.
The much orchestrated war reached its crescendo when two officers of Nigerian Security and Civil defense Corps NSCDC and a soldier from 6 Division of Nigerian Army were killed while having gun duel with miscreants and economic saboteurs led by one Korobe Menele Loveday popularly addressed as ‘Mene’. The incident took place at Ogoniland in Rivers state Nigeria.
According to the account of the incident as made available to www.towncrier.ng Col. Aminu Illiyasu the Deputy Director of Army Public relations 6 Division in a Release on Monday 17th of June, 2019, the death of Mene took place after his alleged killing of the 3 security personnel posted in the area for the protection of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria—SPDC Limited’s Trans National Pipeline-TNP located at Gio in tai Local government Area of Rivers state Nigeria. The incident is said to have occurred as a result of security alert over the vandalisation of the 24-inches and 38-inches Transnational Pipeline-TNP in Gio, Tai LGA as the security operatives came under attack by their assailants.
Before now the presence of the security operatives’ guarding the facilities had hampered the activities of the illegal oil bunkering kingpin and his cohorts. However, the General Officer Commanding –GOC of 6 Division Nigerian Army Major general Jamil Sarham had made strong statement that it is the duty of Army and other security personnel to protect life and property of law abiding citizens residing in the core Niger Delta region where it is controlling which includes Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states of which Port Harcourt is the administrative Headquarters.
Korobe Menele Loveday popularly addressed as ‘Mene’
Narrating the incident according to the report, the GOC 6 Division Major General Jamil Sarham said “In the early hours of June 16, troops of 29 Battalion of 6 Division of Nigerian Army in conjunction with personnel of NSCDC guarding SPDC’s TNP at Gio were attacked by militants and cultists. Unfortunately, during the ensuing shootout, one soldier and two personnel of NSCDC died and their weapons one AK 47 and two G3 rifles were carted away by the assailants. An immediate reinforcement by the troops at the location led to the cordon-And—Search of the general area with a view to finding any criminal believed to be hiding within the communities. Reliable intelligence led to the tracking of the prime suspect, a notorious cultist and illegal oil bunkering kingpin, Korobe Menele Loveday aka Mene who has been on the wanted list of the security agencies for terrorizing communities in the state.
“Consequently, at 9 am on Sunday, June 16, troops cashing in on available information, sighted white Toyota Hilux vehicle without a number plate hastily driven with four occupants. Efforts to stop the vehicle by troops at a checkpoint were ignored. The gallant troops chased the speeding vehicle and caught up with the suspects at Kira Junction on Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori Road. Sensing danger the occupants of the Toyota Hilux vehicle opened fire on the troops in a bid to escape.”
The Army in an effort to comb the Ogoni area of the remaining cultists and vandals had carried out operations in K-Dere and B-Dere towns of Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers state Nigeria.Reports had it that even Gio community was sacked by the Nigerian Army.