The Nigerian military has deployed more soldiers and helicopters to the Niger Delta to enable it effectively check renewed threats of violence by militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) .

Helicopters were on Tuesday morning seen hovering over Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom and home of the wanted former Niger Delta militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo in the Warri South East Local Government Area of Delta state.

The military also deployed more soldiers to the creeks of Gbaramatu and the Escravos River, including Burutu to check oil theft and activities of militants who last week vowed to resume attacks on oil and gas facilities.

However, reacting to the movement of the military personnel into Gbaramatu, a development which has now heightened tension in the community, Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, of the Nigerian Navy said the helicopters were on routine patrol along the Trans Forcados Pipeline.

Dewu said: “What they are speculating as military deployment is routine patrol along the Escravos and the Trans Forcados Pipeline. Once we sense any security concern on that line, our men usually move in to patrol the area.

“Nobody is deploying any gunboats or jets to specific communities. It is a normal patrol,” he added.

The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya has claimed that a Nigeria Air Force armed helicopter, EC-135, bombed suspected illegal oil barges and storage facilities at Adokiakiri community. He said the facilities were discovered during an armed reconnaissance on Sunday.