The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shield, is closing in on suspected Niger dekta militants who on Friday blew up oil pipeline and other facilities belonging to some oil companies and the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

Commander of Operation Pulo Shield, Major-General Alani Okunola, disclosed this while inspecting the site of the pipeline explosion in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State. He described the attack as economic sabotage which the military would not tolerate.

Gen. Okunola’s visit to the site paved the way for that of the Minister of Defence, Brigadier-General Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd.), who this morning arrived Warri for an on-the-spot assessment of the affected oil facilities.

On arrival at the Osubi Airport in Warri, the defecne minister moved to the 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army barracks, for the guard of honour and a brief interaction with troops.

On hand to receive the Minister was the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin; Major General Okunola himself; Brigade Sector 1 Commander, Brigadier General Fanola Yahaya; Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral A.O. Sulaiman; and Secretary to the State Government, Ovie Agas, who represented Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, among others.

•Photo shows Defence Minister Dan-Ali.