The Military on Thursday said it has identified several terrorists safe havens during clearance operations in Aku Forest in Okigwe LGA of Imo State, South Eastern part of Nigeria during a recent invasion by troops targeted towards ensuring that they are completely dismantled.
Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba disclosed this at the media briefing with defence correspondents on strategic military operations across the country, aimed at curtailing the activities of oil thieves, violent extremist groups fomenting insecurity in the country.
According to Maj. General Buba, Troops found unspeakable and unprintable activities going on in the camp, noting that 'these extremist are cannibals feasting on fellow humans and slaughtering them for their devilish acts."
He said that it is clear some of the the safe havens from which these insurgents and terrorists operate from often extend across the borders with other countries, thereby making it a regional issue. Nevertheless, the objective of ongoing operations is to ensure these safe havens are completely destroyed within the shores of the country.
He also revealed how Troops discovered and destroyed 53 illegal refining sites, 54 dugout pits, 66 boats, 138 storage tanks and apprehended 11 suspected oil thefts and recovered over 983,350 litres of stolen crude oil in Niger Delta area.
He said troops also discovered and destroyed 66 oats, 138 storage tanks, 253 cooking ovens. 2 pumping machines, 8 speedboat, 17 hoses, 18 drums, 2 cylinders and 144,980 litres Of AGO and 71,650 litres of DPK. He noted that troops denied oil theft of the estimated sum of Nine Hundred and Sixty Eight Million One Hundred and Sixty Thousand Fifty Naira (N968,160,050.00) only.
Maj. General Buba also disclosed that military operations in the last one week resulted in foiled robbery activities and rescued kidnapped victims in Okpe and Nsit Ubium LGA of Delta and Akwa Ibom States respectively.
Troops also neutralized one criminal, rescued 3 hostages, arrested 19 suspected oil thefts, recovered one abdicated rifle and 18 vehicles among others.
In the South South region, troops denied oil thefts a sum of 968,160,050.00million Naira. Furthermore. Troops recovered. 65 assorted weapons and 400 assorted ammunitions.
Maj. General Buba affirmed that the military will continue to fine tune its operations to ensure maximum protect of citizens and restore security across the country. "We are getting it right and continue to encourage citizens that know something to say something, so that we can do something about it. Together we win the fight."