The Military troops of Operation DELTA SAFE maintained momentum against the activities of crude oil theft by arresting 58 persons involved in oil theft in Bonny and Ikpoba LGAs of Rivers and Edo States respectively, destroying 51 illegal refining sites and recovering 267,700 litres of stolen crude oil, 567,700 litres of illegally refined AGO and 5,000 litres of DPK stolen products.
Director Defence Media Operations, Major General EDWARD BUBA in a press statement on Friday disclosed in his update on the ongoing military operations by the armed forces of Nigeria resulted in 52 neutralized terrorists, while 204 of them were arrested in one week.
According to Major General BUBA, troops also rescued 234 kidnapped hostages. In the South South, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Six Hundred and Sixty Eight Million Seven Hundred Thirty One Thousand Naira (N668,731,000.00) only.
He said troops also arrested suspected armed robbers and foiled illegal bunkering activities in Oshimili South and Ukwa West of Delta and Abia States respectively.
He explained on 28 November 2023, troops while on fighting patrol made contact with armed robbers in Oshimili South LGA of Delta State. During the operation, troops arrested 8 persons suspected of being involved in the robbery.
Following the arrest, 2 of the suspects engaged troops in a fire fight and were neutralized. Troops recovered 2 locally fabricated pistols, 10 cartridges, 17 mobile phones and the sum of Twenty-Nine Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Naira (₦29,850.00) amongst other items.
He added that on anti-illegal Bunkering Operations, on 28 November 2023, troops responded to info of illegal bunkering activities and made contact in Ukwa-West LGA of Abia State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized one while others fled. Troops recovered one pump action gun, 24 live cartridges and matchete amongst others.
On Kidnappers Activities. On 26 November 2023, troops of Operation Hadin Kai with hybrid forces responded to info on kidnapping activities in Biu LGA of Borno State. Troops rescued the kidnap hostages and recovered one AK47 rifle with 4 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammo amongst other items.
Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN also neutralized 2 terrorists, arrested 37 and rescued 3 kidnapped hostages, while troops of WHIRL on 24 November 2023, troops responded to info on kidnapping activities in Katsina-Ala LGA of Benue State. Troops rescued 7 kidnapped hostages in the operation.
Between 23 and 27 November 2023, in a separate operations, troops of Hadarin daji while conducting fighting patrols rescued 16 kidnapped hostages in Faskari, Talata Marafa and Kankara LGAs of Katsina State. Rescued hostages have reunited with their families.
On 26 November 2023, troops responded to info on bandits attack on commuters in Jibia LGA of Katsina State. Troops rescued 7 kidnapped hostages in the operation and recovered 2 vehices and troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH neutralized 4 terrorists, arrested 4 suspected terrorists and rescued 2 kidnapped hostages
On 27 November 2023, troops of Operation Udo Ka while on routine patrol rescued 2 villagers in Igbo Eze North LGA of Enugu State. The rapist were tied up for extrajudicial justice by the community youths for alleged rape case. Rescued victims were handed over to Nigeria Police authority.
Troop rescued 15 victims and recovered 2 vehicles in the operation. Also, injured victims were evacuated to hospital for medical attention
Troops of Operation AWATSE arrested 2 suspected criminals, rescued 15 kidnapped hostages and recovered 2 vehicles. All recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action.
The leadership of these groups remain the prime targets of ongoing operations. Accordingly, the armed forces remains determinate to destroy the terrorists, insurgents and violent extremist groups in the country and degrading their military capability.