The Nigerian Army has said its operation in Yeghe community in Rivers was largely focused on fishing out ex-militant leader, Solomon Ndigbara.
There was prolonged exchange of gun fire on Monday between soldiers and suspected militants defending the home of Ndigbara.
But addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt, Brig.-Gen. Stevenson Olabanji, the Commander of the 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, said there was no loss of life during the incident.
“Around 12 noon on Monday, we received reports of gun fire in Yeghe community, Gokana Local Government Area and I immediately dispatched my Commanding Officer to investigate the incident.
“On reaching the house of Solomon Ndigbara, who had been declared wanted by the army for gun running, some hoodlums fired at the commanding officer.
“The attack on the commanding officer led to a gun battle between our forces and hoodlums which resulted in them (hoodlums) being chased out from the community.
“We learnt that the hoodlums, who fled Yeghe community, later went to Bori community in Khana Local Government Area and burnt down a campaign office belonging to APC,” he said.
Mr. Olabanji said the command had assessed the situation in Bori and was currently “ conducting a stabilisation operation with focus on arresting criminals who committed that heinous crime.”
“No soldier was killed or sustained gunshot injury nor was there anybody (civilian) killed during the operation,” he said.
Mr. Olabanji also denied accusations that the army was being used by some powerful individuals and groups to influence political interest in the state.
The accusation, he said, was propaganda as no personnel in the brigade would be involved in such activities.
Mr. Olabanji also paraded seven suspected cultists accused of masterminding the killings of civilians a fortnight ago in Omoku community in Onelga Local Government Area of the state.
He said the vehicle used by the suspected cultists had been recovered, adding that they had provided useful information to aid further investigation.
The army commander further said that his officers recovered arms and ammunition during a two- month mop-up operation in the state.
“During our two-month operation against illegal bunkering and other criminal elements, we recovered 10 AK-47 rifles, three G3 rifles, eight pump action rifles, 14 dane guns and nine locally made pistols.
“We also recovered one sub-machine gun, two Berretta pistols, 1,073 assorted live ammunitions, two boat engine lines, several military camouflage uniforms among others.
“Several suspects were also arrested during the period and handed over to other security agencies for further investigation and prosecution,” he said.
He gave assurance that the state would no longer be a safe haven for criminals as the brigade would hunt down perpetrators of crime.
Mr. Olabanji, however, called on members of the public to provide information to security agencies that would lead to the arrest of criminals, adding that their identity would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
Meanwhile, following the gun battle between the military and militants in Yeghe, Gokana Local Government Area and Bori, the headquarters of Khana Local Government, the state-owned Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic in Bori, has been shut indefinitely.
The school authority took the precautionary measures following the heavy shooting between soldiers and militants suspected to be supporters of former militant leader, Solomon Ndigbara a.k.a. Osama bin Laden.
Perhaps the appeal by Governor Nyesom Wike to the people of Khana and Gokana local government areas may have persuaded those who fled their homes to return to Yeghe and Bori, the theatres of the gun duel.
Eyewitnesses further added that Yeghe and Bori became ghost towns after soldiers took over the areas regarded as the traditional headquarters of the Ogoni people.
Austin Sor, the Chairman of Gokana LGA who gave update on the situation in his council area said at least seven persons are now feared dead, arising from the raid on the home of Ndigbara on Monday night in Yeghe community.
A pregnant woman, from Yeghe, who was said to have fallen headlong when the shooting started, was one of the victims.
It was gathered that apart from the woman, some people also died in Zaakpo and Bori, headquarters of Khana local government.
Ndigbara, who spoke in Port Harcourt, through his media aide, Dum Nwine, accused the Federal Government of branding him a gun-runner to dent his image.
He accused Senator Magnus Abe and one Barry Mpigi of being masterminds of the attacks on him. Both have denied the allegation.
