RAMADAN, 18 1429 A.H.
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 17 2008
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Troops ready to protect lives, property in Rivers
The Joint Military Task Force in Rivers has expressed its preparedness to protect lives and property of the people in line with the mandate given to it.
Spokesman for the task Force, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt Monday that a declaration of war by the militant Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), was mere propaganda.
''I am aware that the militants suffered heavy casualties during a clash with personnel of the joint task force last Saturday at Elem Tombia in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers.
``As anticipated, they launched reprisal attacks against our deployments in some areas,'' he said.
Musa said that any attempt at military deployments were always blown out of proportion by the militants and that such talks were propaganda aimed at boosting the ego of the militants.
``Our personnel have successfully repelled attacks against their positions at Soku and Alakiri in Rivers where the group attacked Shell facilities.
``We did not record any death or injury as a result of the attack. we anticipated such attack and prepared for it,'' he added.
Musa urged the people not to panic. On his part, Rivers state commissioner for Information, Mr. Ogbonna Nwuke dismissed as propaganda the threat of war by the militants.
``The federal government in collaboration with the governments in the Niger Delta region would protect our oil fields against any attack.
