Some Hope for Curbing the Militancy

Glad to know that kidnapped Lebanese Engineer, Mr. David has been released.

In Kolokuma Opokuma LGA, we were all relieved to hear of the safe release of the kidnapped Lebanese Construction Engineer who was abducted from his work site near Sabagreia. The construction of this strategic road that links our LGA directly with the State capital without the need to go through another state can hopefully resume. The hapless perpetrators have been apprehended and are now helping the police.

It is with hope and great expectation that we read the following story about the renewed efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to bring militancy and criminal activity in the Niger Delta region under effective check. We pray that they will succeed so that the pace of development can be quickened.

FG merges Military Forces In N-Delta
Culled fron The Vanguard
Written by Kingsley Omonobi
Thursday, 12 March 2009

In a renewed effort to contain militants’ attacks on oil platforms, hostage-taking and piracy among others in the Niger Delta, the Federal Government yesterday announced a major reorganisation of the joint military task forces operating in the oil-rich region, merging Operation Restore Hope in Warri with "Operation Flush Out III" in Port Harcourt.

With the merger, initiated by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike, and approved by President Umaru Yar'Adua, there will now be one single Joint Task Force known as ‘Operation Restore Hope' with headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Further, the task force will now be commanded by a two-star general who will have a deputy while there will be Sector Commanders in Warri and Port Harcourt.Maj-Gen Yakin Bello heads new outfit. Named as Commander of Operation Restore Hope is Major-General Sarkin Yakin Bello. General Bello, promoted to the two-star rank last December was former Commander of Operation Flush Out III, in Port Harcourt. He is to be assisted at the headquarters in Yenagoa by Brigadier-General Nanvem Rintip, the former Commander of Operation Restore Hope in Warri.

Confirming the development in Abuja yesterday, Director of Defence Information, Colonel Chris Jemitola noted that “obviously, the new Joint Task Force will have a new mandate for the Niger Delta", adding that the mandate is being worked out by the Chief of Defence Staff and would be made public at an appropriate time.
Explaining that one of the purposes of the merger was to make for better command and control, logistics support and to maximize the synergy of efforts from the three services, the Director of Defence Information said that General Bello will report directly to the CDS.

Joint Military exercise to hold in Ondo
The merger is taking place just as the Defence Headquarters will this month carry out the first Joint Operations Exercise nicknamed "Ologun Meta" which in Yoruba, means ‘The Three Warriors', around Ori Oke Iwamema, Okitipupa, along the coastal area of Ondo State.

The training exercise which would involve the Army, Navy and Air Force, is to practice and test the planning and execution of the Tri-Service joint operation and inter-operability of equipment in the armed forces.

"Other areas of training are beach landing, and special operations to include military operations other than war in phases of a limited war", Col. Jemitola said, adding "there will be large number of troops as well as military hardware in that area and as such, members of the general public are advised not to panic as this is just a military exercise. Locals of the exercise area will be adequately alerted before the exercise commences as armoured vehicles, fighter jets and naval gunships will be deployed" he added.

The Bane of Underdevelopment in Bayelsa

The embarrassing activities of militants appear to have been resuscitated in Bayelsa State with the recent attack at the construction site of Elite Construction Company. Heavily armed gunmen struck at Sabagriea in Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area, abducting a Lebanese construction engineer whose name was given as Mr. David to an unknown destination.
Mr David who works for Elite Construction Company, was kidnapped in the afterrnoon of Wednesday March 4 2009. Eye witnesses said the suspected gunmen were heavily armed and sped off in a speed boat with their hostage through Igbedi Creek.. Elite Construction Company is handling the construction of the Polaku/Sabagriea road project under the auspices of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). A bridge linking the two sides of the road is currently under construction and was expected to be completed within the next 6 months. This abduction can prolong the expected completion dates by months if not carefully handled..
Security agencies are reported to be spreading their intelligence drag net in the area to secure the release of Mr. David.
The issue of kidnaps of development workers has been a source of shame and embarrassment to all well-meaning Bayelsans. To the the people of Kolokuma-Opokuma, this parfticular incident is asetback. The road under construction will help to bring Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area closer to the seat of government in Yenagoa as the new road bypasses the East -West highway and Mbiama and makes travel to Yenagoa very direct and much shorter.
The Bayelsa State Government must embark on a social campaign to educate these ignorant and sick enemies of development that their economic prosperity can never be secured by criminal and selfish acts of hostage taking and ransoms. They are pulling Bayelsa State back and attempting to make it a pariah state that nobody would want to take a risk to live in or work in.