The Defence headquarters on Saturday says, between 8 – 15 May, 2025, Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE destroy 18 illegal refining sites, foiled oil theft worth over One Hundred and Three Million Nine Hundred and Nine Thousand Four Hundred and Twenty Two Naira (N103, 909,422.00) only during the week.
Major General Markus Kangye, the Director Defence Media Operations revealed in a breakdown analysis; 68,875 litres of stolen crude oil, 31,166 litres of illegally refined AGO and 2,250 litres of DPK. Additionally, they discovered and destroyed 16 crude oil cooking ovens, 31 dugout pits, 19 boats, 34 storage tanks, 79 drums and 18 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include, pumping machines, drilling machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones and 7 vehicles.
Maj.General Kangye said in period under review, our gallant troops neutralized scores of terrorists, and also conducted operations in Suleja and Borgu LGA of Niger State where they arrested 2 wanted extremists informants and logistics suppliers identified as Zakari Abubakar and Aliyu Musa and an ammunition courier identified as Rufai Abdullahi in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT.
"Items recovered within the period under review include; arms and ammunition, monies, locally fabricated guns as well as motorcycles. Other items recovered were, pumping machines, drilling machines, tricycles, mobile phones and vehicles.
In period under review, our gallant troops neutralized scores of terrorists, and also conducted operations in Suleja and Borgu LGA of Niger State where they arrested 2 wanted extremists informants and logistics suppliers identified as Zakari Abubakar and Aliyu Musa and an ammunition courier identified as Rufai Abdullahi in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT.
Items recovered within the period under review include; arms and ammunition, monies, locally fabricated guns as well as motorcycles. Other items recovered were, pumping machines, drilling machines, tricycles, mobile phones and vehicles.
He said troops of AFN in conjunction with hybrid forces and other security agencies have sustained offensive operations in all theatres across the country.
The heightened operation is so especially as the raining season approaches so as to provide safe corridors for farmers to return to their farms and contribute their quota to food production and by extension attainment of food security as directed by the President Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The AFN under the leadership of Gen CG Musa OFR is not negotiating issues of national security and welfare of its personnel as the troops remain resolute and ever determined to safeguard the nation’s territorial integrity, national interest and protect citizens from all forms of threats.
As part of its mandate, the military launched several key operations during the week with renewed vigor aimed at combating insurgency, terrorism, and other forms of criminal activities that threaten our communities. These operations are strategically designed and executed to ensure the safety of our people and the restoration of peace in affected regions.
During the week in focus, troops of Operation HADIN KAI recorded the following successes. From 8- 14 May 2025, scores of terrorists comprising adult males and females as well as children surrendered to troops as operational tempo heightened up during the week.
Between 9 - 14 May 2025, troops in conjunction with Hybrid Forces, conducted offensive operations including fighting patrols, raids and clearance operations in Mafa, Dikwa, Gwoza and Damboa LGAs of Borno State. During the operations, some terrorists were neutralized, while 17 kidnapped victims were rescued. They also recovered arms and some quantities of assorted ammunition as well as hand grenade and extra magazines.
Troops arrested 2 terrorists’ logistics suppliers in well-coordinated operations conducted in Gwoza and Gubio on 12 May 2025.
Troops of Operation FASAN YAMMA recorded the following within the period under review:
Between 8 – 14 May 2025, troops conducted fighting patrols and made contact with terrorists in Sabon Birni, Isa Goronyo and Tangaza LGAs of Sokoto State as well as Anka, Gusau, Tsafe, Bungudu and Shinkafi LGAs of Zamfara State. During the encounters, some terrorists were neutralized, while 42 kidnapped victims were rescued. Some weapons as well as assorted ammunition, extra magazines, vehicles, boefeng radios and motorcycles were also recovered.
Troops responded to information about terrorists’ activities in Zurmi, Gusau, Maru, Bukkuyum, Shinkafi and Kaura Namoda LGAs of Zamfara as well as Sabuwa, Kankara, and Gudu LGAs of Katsina and Sokoto States from 8 – 15 May 2025.
During the encounters, troops neutralized some terrorists and rescued over 87 kidnapped victims.
Own medical team and Red-Cross Nigeria administered first aid to the victims, while effort is going to hand them over to appropriate authorities for further action.Arms and ammunition as well as vehicles, motorcycles and livestock were also recovered from them.
Similarly, troops while on cordon and search operations, arrested 2 suspected drug peddlers in Gwadabawa LGA of Sokoto State on 9 April 2025. They recovered 2 bundles of cannabis, assorted illicit drugs and the sum of N110,000.00 from them
During the period under review, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN conducted the following operations: From 8 - 13 May 2025, troops while conducting offensive operations, made contact with extremists in Riyom, Qua’An Pan, Bokkos and Jos South LGAs of Plateau State. During the encounters, our gallant troops neutralized some extremists and arrested a suspected Gunrunner with assorted arms and ammunition as well as the sum of N157,900.00 in his possession.
During the week in focus, troops of Operation HADIN KAI recorded the following successes From 8- 14 May 2025, scores of terrorists comprising adult males and females as well as children surrendered to troops as operational tempo heightened up during the week.
Between 9 - 14 May 2025, troops in conjunction with Hybrid Forces, conducted offensive operations including fighting patrols, raids and clearance operations in Mafa, Dikwa, Gwoza and Damboa LGAs of Borno State. During the operations, some terrorists were neutralized, while 17 kidnapped victims were rescued. They also recovered arms and some quantities of assorted ammunition as well as hand grenade and extra magazines.
Troops arrested 2 terrorists’ logistics suppliers in well-coordinated operations conducted in Gwoza and Gubio on 12 May 2025.
Troops of Operationll FASAN YAMMA recorded the following within the period under review:
Between 8 – 14 May 2025, troops conducted fighting patrols and made contact with terrorists in Sabon Birni, Isa Goronyo and Tangaza LGAs of Sokoto State as well as Anka, Gusau, Tsafe, Bungudu and Shinkafi LGAs of Zamfara State. During the encounters, some terrorists were neutralized, while 42 kidnapped victims were rescued. Some weapons as well as assorted ammunition, extra magazines, vehicles, boefeng radios and motorcycles were also recovered.
Terrorists Activities. Troops responded to information about terrorists’ activities in Zurmi, Gusau, Maru, Bukkuyum, Shinkafi and Kaura Namoda LGAs of Zamfara as well as Sabuwa, Kankara, and Gudu LGAs of Katsina and Sokoto States from 8 – 15 May 2025.
During the encounters, troops neutralized some terrorists and rescued over 87 kidnapped victims.
Own medical team and Red-Cross Nigeria administered first aid to the victims, while effort is going to hand them over to appropriate authorities for further action.Arms and ammunition as well as vehicles, motorcycles and livestock were also recovered from them.
Similarly, troops while on cordon and search operations, arrested 2 suspected drug peddlers in Gwadabawa LGA of Sokoto State on 9 April 2025. They recovered 2 bundles of cannabis, assorted illicit drugs and the sum of N110,000.00 from them
During the period under review, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN conducted the following operations:
From 8 - 13 May 2025, troops while conducting offensive operations, made contact with extremists in Riyom, Qua’An Pan, Bokkos and Jos South LGAs of Plateau State. During the encounters, our gallant troops neutralized some extremists and arrested a suspected Gunrunner with assorted arms and ammunition as well as the sum of N157,900.00 in his possession.
Troops, while on anti-kidnapping and anti-criminality operations responded to credible intelligence about criminal activities in Jos South, Mangu and Bassa between 8 – 10 May 2025. During the operations, some extremists were neutralized and 2 others arrested, while some arms and ammunition as well as motorcycles and livestock were recovered from them.
From 8 - 12 May 2025, troops acting on a tip-off arrested 7 suspected criminals/kidnappers in Jema’a and Kaura LGAs of Kaduna State as well as Bassa, Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom LGAs of Plateau State. Also, troops raided 2 gunrunning/kidnappers syndicates in Jema’a and Barkin Ladi LGAs of Kaduna and Plateau State on 8 and 12 May 2025 respectively. They recovered weapons, ammunition and motorcycles
Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE recorded the following during the period under review;
Between 8 - 10 May 2025, troops while conducting offensive operations, made contact with violent extremists in Ado and Guma LGAs of Benue State as well as Lokoja and Kabba LGAs of Kogi State. They also conducted operations in Lafiaji and Wukari LGAs of Kwara and Taraba States respectively. During the encounters, our gallant troops neutralized some extremists and recovered arms and ammunition as well as motorcycles and mobile phones from them.
From 8 - 13 May 2025, troops while on anti-kidnapping and anti-criminality operations responded to information about criminal activities in Kwande, Otukpo and Buruku LGAs of Benue State as well as Suleja LGA of Niger State. During the operations, they arrested 3 criminals and recovered weapons and ammunition.
Similarly, from 9 – 11 May 2025 troops, acting on credible intelligence, arrested 7 suspected extremists in Logo and Guma LGAs of Benue State as well as Kaiama LGA of Kwara State respectively. Furthermore, they also conducted operations in Suleja and Borgu LGA were they arrested 2 wanted extremists’ informants and logistics suppliers identified as Zakari Abubakar and Aliyu Musa, while an ammunition courier identified as Rufai Abdullahi was apprehended in Gwagwalada Area Council of FCT. Items recovered from them were arms and ammunition as well as motorcycles. Criminals were handed over to appropriate authority for further action.
Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE sustained operational tempo against crude oil thieves and other criminals in the Niger Delta during the week under review:
Troops recovered 68,875 litres of stolen crude oil, 31,166 litres of illegally refined AGO and 2,250 litres of DPK. Additionally, they discovered and destroyed 16 crude oil cooking ovens, 31 dugout pits, 19 boats, 34 storage tanks, 79 drums and 18 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include, pumping machines, drilling machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones and 7 vehicles. Furthermore, 15 oil thieves and other criminals were arrested while assorted arms and ammunition were also recovered.
On 12 May 2025, troops while conducting offensive operation rescued a suspected member of Eiye Confraternity who was injured during rivalry fight. The suspect was evacuated to Orerokpe General Hospital, Okpe LGA of Delta State.
Similarly, on 8 - 12 May 2025 troops, acting on a tip-off arrested 9 suspected vandals/kidnappers in Uvwie, Udi, Isoko South and Oshimili North LGAs of Delta State as well as Southern Ijaw and Ogbia LGAs of Bayelsa State and Port Harcourt LGA of Rivers State. Criminals were handed over to appropriate authority for necessary action.
Troops of Operation UDO KA have sustained offensive operations during the period under review:
Between 8 - 10 May 2025, troops while conducting offensive operations, made contact with terrorists in Okigwe, Mbano and Njaba LGAs of Imo State. During the operations, troops neutralized some terrorists. One of the criminals was identified as Goodluck otherwise known as Arrow. They recovered arms, ammunition, motorcycles and vehicles from them.
From 8 - 11 May 2025, troops while on anti-kidnapping and anti-criminality operations responded to information about criminal activities in Ihiala and oyi LGAs of Anambra State as well as Ukwa West LGA of Abia State. However, the criminals had fled before troops arrived the location. They exploited the general area and recovered ammunitions, vehicles, motorcycles and the sum of N142,000.00 only as well as recovery of over 3,000 litres of illegally refined crude oil.
Similarly, Between 8 - 12 May 2025 troops in conjunction with DSS personnel acted on credible intelligence and arrested 2 suspected criminals in Ihiala and Igbo-Eze North LGAs of Anambra and Enugu States respectively. Arrested suspect were handed over to appropriate authority for further action.
Maj General Markus assured that Troops of AFN will continue its operations across the country within the ambit of the law giving due regards to human rights in line with global best practices in orders to safeguard national security, support our allies, and maintain regional stability.
The AFN remains focused in our determination to defeat terrorism, banditry and other criminalities in the country in order to ensure the safety of all Nigerians. Against this backdrop, the Armed Forces of Nigeria is calling on all law abiding citizens to go about their daily activities without fear of intimidations. We solicit continued sharing of credible information with our troops in order to enhance our operations. You are please requested to disseminate this information to the general public. Together, we shall overcome.