The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta on Thursday allayed the fears of local residents on the presence of Boko Haram terrorists in Bayelsa. JTF officials dismissed rumors that the development prompted the closure of schools.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content1'); });
Information had flittered into town that the dreaded Boko Haram Sect is hatching plans to strike in Bayelsa, and that that had led to the closure of schools in Bayelsa.
Lt-Col. Mustapha Anka, Media Coordinator of the task force, who addressed a press conference, said that there was “no truth” to the rumors, and assured the public that adequate measures were in place to guarantee safety of life and property in the state.
“The JTF wishes to state categorically that the rumors being peddled on the presence of Boko Haram Terrorists Group in Bayelsa, is not only false, but misleading information capable of causing panic among the good people of Bayelsa.
“The closure of schools in Bayelsa is in line with a directive from the National Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr. Michael Olukoga, directing its members to stay out of classrooms today, May 22,” Lt-Col. Mustapha Anka said.
“The directive is to protest the killing of their colleagues by Boko Haram Terrorists, and (the) abduction of over 200 girls of (the) Government Secondary School Chibok, in Borno state.
“The JTF urges the good people of Bayelsa and general public to go about their normal business without fear as the Command of JTF is working assiduously in collaboration with other security agencies to protect lives and property in the state,” Anka said.
Reacting to the claim of responsibility on the explosion at Port Harcourt Refinery by Movement of Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Anka said the explosion was caused by the activities of oil thieves.
“Those masquerading as MEND to perpetrate all kinds of atrocities in the Niger Delta, are pipeline vandals, and illegal oil bunkerers, who in the process of rupturing pipelines, (had) caused the outbreak of fire that gutted the NNPC jetty.
“They are criminals and renegade militants seeking relevance in the affairs of the Niger Delta, the JTF is on their trail, and will soon round them up to face the law,” Anka said.
Still, the presence of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta is unusual. Their mere presence, coupled with the closure of local schools, has stirred anxiety among the local residents unsure if there is, in fact, activity in the area by the Islamist group. The Boko Haram have promised the public in recent video messages that there will be more attacks coming in other parts of Nigeria. And for many living in Bayelsa, the prevailing question is whether or not they may well be next on that list.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('comments'); });
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content2'); });