The Nigerian Military says, troops in the South South region of the country denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Seven Hundred and Twenty Eight Million Two Hundred and Ninty Seven Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty Naira (N728,297,650.00) only, neutralised 181 and arrested 203 persons within 2 weeks.
Director, Defence Media Operation, Maj. General Edward Buba in a signed press statement revealed this on Friday, noting that Troops also arrested 50 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 161 kidnapped hostages.
Maj General Buba said troops also recovered 228 assorted weapons and 6,749 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: 4 GPMGs, 3 G3 rifles, 85 AK47 rifles, 38 fabricated rifles, 36 dane guns, 12 FN rifles, 3 fabricated revolver pistol, 24 locally made pistols, 16 pump action guns, 2 single barrel guns, one berretta pistol, 4 hand grenades, 3 IEDs and 63 magazines.
He added that several notorious kidnappers and a notorious gun runners identified as Mohammed Musa (aka Mamman) was arrested in Plateau State,among others. All efforts are aimed at degrading terrorist wherever they are hibernating or hiding.
He said troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 25 crude oil cooking ovens, 10 dugout pits, 38 boats, 44 storage tanks and 47 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include 6 speedboats, 3 receivers, 48 drums, 3 motorcycles, one mobile phone and 12 vehicles among others. Troops recovered 765,680 litres of stolen crude oil and 86,725 litres of illegally refined AGO.
He noted that troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralized 53 terrorists, arrested 55 suspects and rescued 17 kidnappers hostages. Troops also recovered 29 AK47 rifles, 7 fabricated rifles, 6 dane guns, one locally made pistol, 4 hand grenades, 670 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 168 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 32 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm PKT ammo, 16 magazines, 10 motorcycles, one bicycle, 14 mobile phones and the sum of N129,500.00 only amongst other items.
He revealed that between 25 and 26 Nov 24, a total of 53 terrorists comprising 3 adult males, 2 adult females and 7 children surrendered to troops within the theatre of operations.
On 2 December 2024, one ISWAP terrorists with 10 members of his family comprising one adult male with 3 adult females and 7 children surrendered to troops in Gwoza LGA of Borno State. Troops recovered one AK47 rifle, 11 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and one mob phone.
Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN neutralized 10 violent extremists, arrested 26 persons and rescued 60 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 4 fabricated rifles, 5 dane guns, 4 locally pistols, 483 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 141 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 21 rounds of 9mm ammo, 2 motorcycles, 2 mobile phones amongst others.
Between 4 and 10 December 2024, following credible tip-off, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN in separate operations intercepted and arrested 7 violent extremists/terrorists including a notorious gunrunner identified as Mohammed Musa (aka Mamman) in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Bassa LGAs of Plateau State.
He said troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralized one terrorists, arrested 26 violent extremists and rescued 6 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered one AK47 rifle, one dane gun, one baretta pistol, 5 rounds of 9mm ball para-ammo, one vehicle and one motorcycle amongst others.
Overall, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE recovered 765,680 litres of stolen crude oil and 86,725 litres of illegally refined AGO. Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 25 crude oil cooking ovens, 10 dugout pits, 38 boats, 44 storage tanks and 47 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include 6 speedboats, 3 receivers, 48 drums, 3 motorcycles, one mobile phone and 12 vehicles among others.
Troops rescued 4 kidnapped hostages and apprehended 50 suspected oil thefts and other violent extremists.
Overall, troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH arrested 3 violent extremists and rescued 2 kidnapped hostages.
Overall, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralized one terrorists, arrested 26 violent extremists and rescued 6 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered one AK47 rifle, one dane gun, one baretta pistol, 5 rounds of 9mm ball para-ammo, one vehicle and one motorcycle amongst others.
Overall, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI neutralized 93 terrorists, arrested 33 persons and rescued 67 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 2 GPMGs, 2 G3 rifles, 43 AK47 rifles, 26 fabricated rifles, 16 dane guns, 10 pump action guns, 7 FN rifles, 16 locally made pistols, one revolver pistol, 1,246 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 658 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo, 821 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 409 rounds of PKT ammo, 231 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammo and 231 live cartridges
Troops will continue to act with tremendous force to ensure the terrorist and their cohorts are completely destroyed. Troops will also continue to create an atmosphere in which citizens live in peace and are safe from acts of terror.
Troops continued their onslaught and aggression against terrorist across the various theatres of operation in the country. Fighting was intense in the NW theatre with dry season operations fully on course.