By Olayemi Esan
The Defence Headquarters has revealed that secessionists activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra and ESN elements in the South East drastically reduced after the arrest of one IPOB secretary, Mr Obinna Nwite and minutes of meeting book, containing some names of IPOB members.
Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig. Gen. Bernard Onyeuko
made this disclosure while briefing Defence Correspondents on the Armed
Forces of Nigeria’s operational activities in the various theatres of
operation across the country.
Onyeuko said, pockets of incidents
were recorded in some locations at Oru-West LGA of Imo State and Ebonyi
LGA of Ebonyi State which led to recovering of 4 pistols, 3 long barrel
guns, and 18 rounds of assorted ammunition.
He explained that,
Nigerian troops responded to distress calls and carried out raid
operations on some IPOB enclaves within the period in focus.
"The
arrested IPOB/ESN militia and all recovered items have been handed over
to appropriate prosecuting agencies for further action" he added.
In
another development, DHQ said troops of Operation Delta Safe sustained
the land, maritime and air operations to contain the illegal oil
production as well as forestall activities of vandals and other economic
saboteurs in the South – South Zone.
In the course of these
operations, troops discovered and deactivated illegal oil
refining/bunkering sites, arrested some criminal elements as well as
recovered arms and ammunition and several other items in Rivers, Imo,
Delta and Abia States.
Troops discovered and immobilized a total of 41 illegal refining sites, 33 ovens, 24 cooking pots/boilers, 8 cooling systems, 32 reservoirs, 43 large dugout pits and 93 storage tanks.
A total of 795,500 litres of illegally refined AGO; 60,000 litres of DPK and six million, three hundred and ninety-five thousand, four hundred and twenty litres (6,395,420ltrs) of stolen crude were recovered in the course of the operations.
In addition, 26 criminal elements associated with pipeline vandalism, piracy, illegal oil bunkering and armed robbery were arrested within the period.
The efforts of Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies, both kinetic and non-kinetic have continued to yield attendant results.
The military high command lauded the sacrifices of its troops and continues to salute their courage and resilience towards achieving sustainable peace.
