A team of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta Operation Delta Safe on Saturday clashed with the Bayelsa Environmental Sanitation Authority during the monthly cleanup exercise.

While the environmental exercise was going on, the JTF vehicle laden with armed soldiers was intercepted by the environmental officials on the Mbiama-Yenagoa express road.

The JTF soldiers had to question why the sanitation officials must block the main road which resulted in a heated argument followed by the release of a gun shot into the air which compelled the sanitation officials to scamper for cover.

Consequently many other motorists arrested drove away.

Chairman of the Environmental Sanitation Authority, Chief Robert Enua, who was monitoring the exercise called on the Spokesman of the JTF on phone to report the activities of the soldiers.

He had threatened to report the matter to the Governor of Bayelsa State, warning that the military should not provoke Niger Delta people into violence.

•Photo shows troops of Operation Delta Safe.