Search for Niger Delta militants began, Tuesday, as stern-looking and war-kitted troops barricaded some creeks and waterways of Bayelsa State.
The operation commenced following the declaration by the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS) that it would go “on the offensive” to fish out all the militants and killers of soldiers at a military checkpoint in Nembe on Monday morning.
Militants dared the military on Monday when they ambushed the checkpoint, killed three soldiers on duty and carted away gunboats, rifles and ammunition.
They held the community spellbound with gunshots that lasted for about 30 minutes. Fighter jets were said to have hovered continually over the community as soldiers took strategic positions and cordoned off some waterways.
Nembe was described by a resident who spoke in confidence as “ghost town” following massive exodus of panic-stricken locals out of the community.