From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
THE Ministry of Defence has deployed troops in the Ogbia-Nembe to prepare the ground for the resumption of road construction earlier suspended.
Two soldiers were killed recently when an expatriate was kidnapped, which forced the construction company, Setraco, to leave the site.
The Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield confirmed the deployment of troops and explained it was to guard against possible attack by criminal elements in the area.
Representative of the Joint Task Force, Col. Gold Chibuisi, who spoke yesterday in Yenagoa, at a meeting initiated by Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah and the two funding partners, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) as well as Setraco, said the task force has taken some measures to step up security on the Ogbia-Nembe Road by deploying more personnel as well as increase in check-points and patrol.
According to him, the recent killing of two soldiers on the road was unfortunate and shocking.
Earlier, the deputy governor expressed appreciation to all the partners in the project for coming together to chart the way forward.