As the military action against militant groups in the Niger Delta continues, the Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF), Major-General Seriyika Bello, on Thursday disclosed that one officer and 11 soldiers are missing since the offensive began last Friday.

General Bello, who spoke at a media briefing in the JTF office, Effurun, Delta State, also declared wanted, the leader of militants in the state, Mr. Government Egbomgbolo a.k.a Tompolo. The guest-house of Egbomgbolo was destroyed during he military’s raid on Oporoza community last Friday.

The JTF commander said the offensive against militant groups would continue, while assuring that innocent persons were not attacked.
The general, however, warned that anyone caught in a dubious manner would be treated as an accomplice.

General Bello disclosed that one officer and 11 soldiers were still missing since the crisis started last Friday but stated that he could not say whether they were dead or alive
The JTF boss said he personally led the operation ‘Smoking out Tompolo and his allies’ to Okerenkoko and Oporoza where the battle really took place but assured that no stone would be left un-turned in dealing decisively with the miscreants.
Bello said the offensive that made the dreaded Tompolo to flee was carried out in a professional and excellent manner, adding that even though civilian were not targeted, getting the real culprits was the main aim of the military

Fielding questions from newsmen, the JTF boss recalled that it was not the first time his men had gone to camp 5, but frowned at the conflicting reports from the media, which he said, were compounding the issue.
He further disclosed that he personally ordered the attack on Tompolo’s house with helicopter and other weapons but stressed that the palace of the traditional ruler of Gbaramatu was not his target, rather, it was close to the militant leader’s house and was thus affected.

On why the troops attack the area at a time the people were celebrating their yearly festival, General Bello declared: “You don’t carry out festival with weapon.”
The JTF boss disclosed that his men recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition in Tompolo’s house and further disclosed that seven members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were saved on Wednesday from falling victim to the militants

“I have offered olive branch to Tompolo at a time but he turned it down but now he is on the run and effort will be made to arrest him so that he will be answerable to all the atrocities he committed,” said the JTF commander.
He said the military would continue to build intelligence in order to ward-off any aggression locally and internationally and enjoined all and sundry to cooperate with the JTF in its effort to sanitize the society.