No fewer than three persons were killed while others sustained different levels of injuries in a gun battle that ensued between the Joint Task Force (JTF) and suspected militants in Delta state.
The gun battle occurred at Benigboye Community of Burutu Local Government Area of the state on September 5 and earlier this week.
The Commander of the JTF, Alani Okunlola, disclosed this during a press briefing on Thursday in Warri.
“My men raided a militant camp in Benigboye. On sighting the troops, the suspects opened fire, which led to a gun battle that lasted for 30 minutes before they fled the camp.
Okunlola, speaking further, said: “In the follow up operation on September 6, my troops, on getting information on the hideout of the suspected militants that attacked Odimodi Community, launched a search operation and one Ebiwame Lamia was apprehended.”
He said that in the course of initial investigation, Lamia who claimed to be 17 years old allegedly admitted that he was in the camp during the previous attack. He quoted him to have said, “I was a cook in the camp of the militants.
“Three people died in the gun battle while others escaped with bullet wounds.
The commander further divulged that during the operation, a medium machine gun, AK 47, light machine gun and AK 47 automatic rifle, were recovered from the suspected militants.
“Among other weapons recovered by the troop were G3 riffles, one single barrel gun, Improvised Explosive Device and an identity card,” the Commander added.
“The JTF is in search of the fleeing suspects,” Okunlola noted and called on locals to assist the troops with useful information.
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