From: Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

The Nigeria military has confirmed its personnel have killed a notorious militant, Ossy Ibori, in Ondo State.

According to investigations the renegade militant who has been fingered in several bank robberies, kidnappings and killings in Ondo, Lagos and Ogun states was gunned down during a gun duel with troops of Operation Delta Safe (ODS).

‎A statement from the coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre of the ODS, Major Abubakar Abdullahi, said Ossy led his gang members to attack soldiers at their location at Ajakpa but the troops repelled the attack  and succeeded in killing the militant leader.

He said one soldiers died during the operation, while three sustained gun shots wounds and are presently receiving medical treatment.

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The statement reads “In line with its mandate to rid Niger Delta of all criminal acts of militancy and kidnappings in a special operation repelled an attack on troop’s location around Ajakpa community in the creeks of Southern Ondo State last night. The attack was led by one notorious gang leader, Ossy Ibori with a hideout at Ajakpa, Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

“The leader was gunned down during the gun duel, along with some of his gang members. His body was identified by some of the locals in the area. While search for other criminals who jumped into the water with gunshot wounds is ongoing, troops had recovered one AK-47 Rifle and 4 Magazines.”

In 2016 the gang was responsible for the abduction of students and staff of a secondary school. The criminals in addition, carried out several attacks at Ese-Odo community around Ajakpa,Safarogbo and Balowo areas. The need to flush them out from their hideout became necessary to ensure peace and security in Ondo state. Sadly in the process, one gallant soldier paid the supreme price while 3 others sustained gunshot wounds. They have since been moved to military hospital for proper medical attention. While the operation is ongoing, let me appeal to law abiding residents of the affected communities to remain calm, vigilant and support our troops with valuable information on whereabouts of other criminals.”

‎ Aside his involvement in several pipeline vandalism, kidnapping and bank robberies, findings indicated that he demanded for amnesty, threatening to disrupt the economy within Lagos and Ogun states if the Federal Government did not dialogue with his gang and grant its members pipeline protection contracts.

It is also believed that he coordinated most of the bank robberies and high profile kidnappings, including that of three schoolgirls at Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School in Ikorodu, four landlords at Isheri North, Oniba of Ibaland, Oba Goriola Oseni and many others within Lagos and Ogun states.