Authorities of the Joint Military Task Force code named Operation Restore Hope on Monday announced that it has approved the search for the gang of kidnappers involved in dressing in full military uniforms and abducting high profile personalities in Bayelsa State.
The gang of armed kidnappers, dressed in Military Uniform, had in the last two months abducted three expatriate workers and killed two policemen in the State.
The JTF, in a statement signed by the Coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre, Lt.Col. Isa Ado, said though the command has launched a manhunt for the kidnappers in Military Uniform, the kidnappers’ claim that they were ordered by the JTF for the nefarious activity is dubious and mischievous.
According to the JTF, “the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation, PULO SHIELD, has been drawn to headlines in series of National newspapers published on 1 July, 2015 which reported that the hoodlums who abducted the wife of the ex Bayelsa acting governor recently dubiously and mischievously claimed they were sent by the Commander of the Joint Task Force.”
“This headquarters wishes to bring to the notice of the general public that kidnappers in the State have adopted a new strategy and dimension to criminality in the state and warned that people should be wary and mindful of obnoxious acts by syndicated miscreants. It is worthy to note that the JTF troops recently swung into action in rescuing two female cousins of the former C-in-C who were kidnapped. The kidnapped victims were released on 5 June, 2015 without any ransom.”
“Also, on 12 June, 2015, Pastor Seyi Adekunle, a senior Pastor of Living Faith Church, Calabar was kidnapped. The troops of JTF carried out an operation which led to his release on 19 June, 2015 without ransom.
