By Linus Aleke
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Thursday, said that troops of Operation Delta Safe again discovered and immobilized a total of 39 illegal refining sites, in two weeks.
The troops also uncovered 91 cooking ovens, 24 reservoirs, 17 large dugout pits and 96 storage tanks.
This is even as a total of 863 terrorists and their families comprising 136 adult males, 251 adult females and 476 children surrounded to troops deployed at different locations, including; Banki, Bama, Dikwa, Gwoza and Gamboru towns in Borno State.
Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Benard Onyeuko made this disclosure while briefing Defence correspondent in Abuja.
He revealed that a total of 637,500 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil; 950,000 litres of stolen crude oil were recovered in the course of the operations.
General Onyeuko said, “In addition, 10 criminals associated with pipeline vandalism, piracy, illegal oil bunkering and armed robbery were arrested within the period. Also, troops recovered 3 assorted arms, 48 rounds of the different calibre of ammunition, 2 AK-47 rifle magazines as well as 17 pieces of galvanized pipes and 23 wooden boats among other items used for illegal oil bunkering activities in the course of the operations”.
He noted that the arrested criminals and recovered items have been handed over to relevant security agencies for further action.
According to him, “Operation DELTA SAFE has continued to sustain its operational tempo in the fight against illegal oil production and other sundry crimes through kinetic and non-kinetic means in the South-South Zone. Troops’ land, maritime and air operations within the past 2 weeks yielded appreciable results and forestalled activities of vandals as well as other economic saboteurs in the oil-rich Niger Delta Region. Some of these operations were executed at different locations in villages, creeks and towns in Emohua, Ikwere, Port Harcourt and Ahoada LGAs of Rivers State. Other locations are villages, towns and creeks in; Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North LGAs of Delta State as well as in Ekeremor, Brass and Southern Ijaw LGAs of Bayelsa State. Also, operations were conducted at Opobo creek and some communities in Mbo LGA of Akwa Ibom State as well as Ukwa West LGA of Abia State, which yielded significant results within the period under review”.
On Operation HADIN KAI, the spokesperson of Nigerian military operations said that troops conducted various land and air operations in different locations of the theatre with renewed vigour that recorded significant results in the last 2 weeks.
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He said that within the period under review, his own troops killed a total of 37 terrorist elements, arrested 17 of them as well as recovered 21 assorted arms and 117 rounds of different calibres of ammunition.
“A total of 4 gun trucks were captured from the terrorists. Additionally, troops rescued a total of 16 abducted civilians within the period. A total of 863 terrorists and their families comprising 136 adult males, 251 adult females and 476 children surrounded to own troops deployed at different locations, including; Banki, Bama, Dikwa, Gwoza and Gamboru towns in Borno State, within the period. The surrendered terrorists have been properly profiled and handed over to appropriate authorities for necessary actions”.
He pledged that the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies across the country have and will continue to maintain their stand in the efforts to deny criminal elements freedom of action.
The Military High Command also appreciated the troops for their sacrifices in the various theatres of operation and commends their courage and resilience in combating the security challenges across the country.
