Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, defence information director, confirmed the development, saying it involved the army and the navy.The Nigerian Air Force bombs suspected Creeks of militants in Lagos and Ogun states and the army reports that scores of militants were killed
Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Dornier-228 aircraft bombard Creeks of militants. The Nigerian army caused panic in the Arepo area of Ogun state and some part of Lagos state as soldiers bombarded the camps 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 Camp of the militants, the houses closed to the area were shaken by the impact of bomb bless. There has been a lot of commotion.
The Nigerian Air Force bombed Fatola, in Arepo, which is the Camp 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 authorities said people in the area fleeing their homes due to the operation. Niger Delta militants have invaded Igando area of Lagos, southwest Nigeria on July 27 with several people feared killed.
Also a resident in the Imushin area of Ogun state reports that two jets were engaged in the operation, and 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,”
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.”
“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.
SOURCE: Punch News
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