Maj. Gen. Buba Edward, the Director, Defence Media Operations, disclosed in Abuja while briefing journalists that troops on operation in the Niger Delta area thwarted the theft of crude oil and in the process, arrested 22 suspected oil thieves.
The military high command said, on Thursday, as he informed on the activities of the military in the last one week, that they were able to stop the theft of atleast N388,469,650.00 worth of crude oil, as a total of 191 terrorists were killed while 184 of them were arrested in the last one week.
“Troops in the Niger Delta discovered and destroyed 38 dugout pits, 21 boats, 57 storage tanks, three tapping hoses, four drum receivers, 89 cooking ovens, six pumping machines, three outboard engines, and 34 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 696,250 litres of stolen crude oil, 54,400 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 1,200 litres PMS.
Giving more update on the counter-insurgency fight, the military spokesman added that troops arrested two high-profile Islamic State for West African Province terrorists in the Suleja and Tafa local government areas of Niger State.
During the clearance operations conducted by the troops in collaboration with other security operatives on September 21, the terrorist Bigwigs were arrested.
He said, “Troops in the Niger Delta discovered and destroyed 38 dugout pits, 21 boats, 57 storage tanks, three tapping hoses, four drum receivers, 89 cooking ovens, six pumping machines, three outboard engines, and 34 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 696,250 litres of stolen crude oil, 54,400 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 1,200 litres PMS.
He continued, “on September 21, 2023, troops in conjunction with sister agency personnel raided terrorists’ hideouts in Tafa and Suleja LGAs of Niger State. During the operations, troops arrested two high-profile ISWAP terrorists.
“Also, On September 20, 2023, troops on patrol raided criminal hideouts in AMAC of FCT. During the operation, troops arrested 51 suspects and impounded three vehicles for various offences. All have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.”
104 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and their families surrendered to troops across various theatres of operation, and the troops rescued 91 kidnap victims, Edward said.
