The Defence Headquarters says, troops within one week denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Seven Hundred and Forty Seven Million Secenty Thousand Seven Hundred and Ten Naira (N747,070,710.00) only, discovered and destroyed 42 illegal refining sites.
Major General Edward Buba, Director, Defence Media Operations on Friday said in a press statement that troops discovered and destroyed 215 crude oil cooking ovens, 26 dugout pits, 29 boats, 62 storage tanks, 20 drums.
General Buba said, during the week under review, troops neutralised 79 and arrested 224 persons. Troops also arrested 28 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 67 kidnapped hostages.
Significantly, troops in North Central Operational Theatre neutralised a notorious terrorist commander, and gun runner identified as Abu Mosaje in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.
Additionally, same troops apprehended a wanted kidnap kingpin that was on security watch list identified as Babangida Gora Usman. He was arrested in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State
Furthermore, troops arrested another notorious gunrunner and his son identified as Timothy Yusuf and Timothy Obadiah. Meanwhile, in the South East, troops arrested 7 IPOB/ESN terrorists including a notorious kidnapper and informants in Enugu North and Ehime Mbano LGAs of Enugu and Imo States.
General Buba revealed that at the cause of the offensive operations troops recovered items include one barge, one tug boat, 2 pumping machines, 2 speedboats, 9 outboard engines, 2 vehicles, 21 motorcycles, 11 mobile phones and 8 vehicles among others. Troops recovered 842,685 litres of stolen crude oil, 12,340 litres of illegally refined AGO and 200 litres of DPK.
Furthermore, across all the theatres of operations, troops recovered 104 assorted weapons and 1,953 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: 53 AK47 rifles, 25 fabricated rifles, one FN rifle, 11 dane guns, 2 pump action guns, one fabricated SMG, 4 IEDs, 7 RPG bombs, 30 magazines, 4 IEDs and 3 locally made butts.
Others are: 1,186 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 417 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 49 rounds of 12.7mm ammo, 190 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 12 live cartridges, 3 bandoliers, one baofeng, 35 motorcycles, 22 mobile phones amongst other items.
Troops remain steadfast in destruction of terrorists across the country. Even as the armed forces remains committed to creating conditions in which the safety and security of citizens is guaranteed.