According to an official statement issued on Thursday and signed by Kevin Aligbe, the group’s Acting Commander, the shrines were destroyed as troops continue the search for the perpetrators of these heinous acts.In a related development, the statement said other troops of the command in Bayelsa State arrested 44 members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) at Lakeview Club on Mabinton Estate.
It said the group was planning to establish the Bayelsa State Chapter of the group and disrupt public peace within the Joint Operations Area of Operation DELTA SAFE.
“They were duly arrested and have been handed over to relevant authorities for further investigations. The unity of Nigeria is non–negotiable and sacrosanct. Hence any unlawful gathering that will cause mayhem, threaten the unity and sovereignty of the country will not be condoned.”Brig. General Aligbe said the raid in which the human skulls and remains were found covered Ikot Ene Idem, Abakpa and Ikang Inam in Bakassi and Akpabuyo Local Government Areas of Cross River State, following a tip-off.
“With the clearance of these shrines, the Bakassi Strike Force have effectively been smoked out from the area they used to hold sway. It should be noted that the senseless killing of humans for ritual purposes is sacrilegious and will not be tolerated in any form.”
