– The Nigerian Air Force provides bombardment on the creeks of suspected militants in Lagos and Ogun states
– The army reports that scores of militants were killed
– Mr Abubakar calls on Nigerians not to panic as the sound of blasts is just a part of exercise
A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Dornier-228 aircraft
The Nigerian army caused panic in the Arepo area of Ogun state and some part of Lagos state as soldiers bombarded the base of suspected Niger Delta militants in the state.
The Punch reports that scores of militants were feared killed in the joint army operation which lasted for several hours.
The source revealed that the army attacked Fatola, the base of the militants, continuing that houses around the area were shaken by the impact of bomb blasts on the Ijaw militants.
He said: “There has been a lot of commotion. The Nigerian Air Force bombarded Fatola, in Arepo, which is the base of the militants. They are shelling the place with fighter jets. Some soldiers also surrounded the area to make sure that if any of the militants should run out, they would be gunned down.”
A local said people in the area had commenced fleeing their homes due to the operation.
Another resident in the Imushin area of Ogun state stated that two jets were engaged in the operation, continuing that only one base of the militants was attacked.
“An aircraft had actually been surveying the creek for the past three days. But a second one joined this evening around 6pm. All we heard was a sudden bomb blast released from the second aircraft. But it appeared that some of the militants had fled into the bush. There are four major bases of the militants in the creek and they are led by two men- OC and Agbala. If the military can get these two people, then they would have succeeded in clipping the wings of the militants,” he said.
A community leader, who claimed to have spoken with one of the officers, added: “The military officer said residents should not panic because it was a military exercise. I also gathered that the casualty figure was high and that a lot of the militants had been killed.”
Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, defence information director, confirmed the development, saying it involved the army and the navy.
“The military only conducts its routine operation for the purpose of denying the vandals and other criminal elements from causing terror in the area. The operation, codenamed, Operation Awatse, was initiated by the defence headquarters to dominate the area with a view to flushing out all manners of criminals including militants and saboteurs. The operation involved the joint forces of the navy and army and it has been successful,” Abubakar stated.
Niger Delta militants have invaded Igando area of Lagos, southwest Nigeria on July 27 with several people feared killed.
There was pandemonium in the area as the militants broke into people’s houses to wreak havoc.
The shootings continued for several days.
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