The Joint Task Force (JTF) of the Nigerian armed forces deployed to quell the brigandage in the troubled Niger-Delta region has succeeded in demolishing a den belonging to one of the militant groups. This was made known while parading four militants who were rounded up in Bayelsa State last weekend by the JTF. According to the Military Public Relations Officer, Major O. Ochagwuba, who spoke at thee Effurun, Delta State headquarters of the JTF , eight dynamite explosives, dynamite charger, four rifles, four G3 assault machine guns, three pump action guns, one locally-made single barrel gun, 7.62 mm Nato round (44), K-2 rounds (14), 79 cartridges, seven bandoliei and a wall clock were recovered by the its men who carried out the operation.

Also recovered were an exercise book containing the names of over 40 members of the militant group and the appointments of some of the key leaders, one generating set (SUMEC brand), a DVD set, one LG 21-inch television, one HF radio set, one base radio set, one HF. antennae, a bundle of 19-line cable, Navy beret, bullet proof jacket, a pair of camouflage army uniform and a national identity card belonging to one of the militants.

Ochagwuba told newsmen that the camp was set up at Egbema-Ngalabiri by one Ambrose in Rivers State for the purpose of kidnapping hostages and demanding ransom from the government and oil companies, adding that there was no casualty on either side when the military struck at about 15.30 hours.

The four suspected militants that were paraded denied that they were members of a militant group, claiming that they were members of the Bayelsa Volunteers, a group set up by the Bayelsa State Government to help maintain peace in the state.