Daud Olatunji
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has disclosed that troops deployed to the Joint Task Force, South South, Operation Delta Safe, denied oil thieves an estimated sum of over N1.8 billion in the Niger Delta over the past one week.
The DHQ states this in a statement, signed by Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen Edward Buba.
Buba highlighted significant achievements in the fight against oil theft and illegal refining operations.
According to Buba, troops recovered 1,099,860 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,101,700 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 27,350 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and 150 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
He added that in a major crackdown, troops discovered and deactivated no fewer than 105 illegal refining sites within the reporting period.
He said the operations also led to the arrest of 55 individuals involved in oil theft, as well as the rescue of 202 kidnapped hostages.
Buba reported that troops deployed to Operations Hardin Kai, Hadarin Daji, and Safe Haven had killed at least 220 terrorists and arrested 395 others.
He added that the troops recovered cache of arms and ammunition, including 432 assorted weapons and 9,004 assorted rounds of ammunition.
Also recovered weapons were ; three PKT guns, one G3 rifle, 83 AK-47 rifles, 18 locally fabricated guns, 16 dane guns, two pump action guns, two double barrel guns, two single barrel guns, eight locally fabricated pistols, two revolver rifles, 14 RPG bombs, one RPG launcher, two tear gas launchers, 234 smoke grenades, and one bandolier.
He stated that the troops also recovered various types of ammunition: 5,893 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2,064 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 401 rounds of 9mm ammo, 200 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 154 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm, 195 live cartridges, 17 magazines, three Baofeng radios, eight vehicles, 32 motorcycles, 59 mobile phones, and N813,550 in cash among other items.
He said in the Niger Delta region, the troops discovered and destroyed 51 dugout pits, 38 boats, and 51 storage tanks.
According to him, additional items recovered included 215 cooking ovens, two speedboats, 44 drums, three tugboats, three barges, four wheelbarrows, one outboard engine, 15 vehicles, three motorcycles, six mobile phones, and 105 illegal refining sites.
He assured that troops will continue to employ significant firepower to neutralize terrorists and disrupt their activities across the country. Winning the war against terrorism, he asserted, is non-negotiable.
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