Determined to ram home its message that ongoing crackdown on threats to national security, prosperity and stability is real, total and non-negotiable, courageous troops of the Operation Delta Safe of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in the past two weeks busted 57 illegal crude oil refining sites, arresting 16 suspected oil thieves and denying them N82.445, 150.00 worth of impounded crude oil in the Niger Delta region.
Some of the other items discovered and destroyed were 27 wooden boats, 158 storage tanks, 149 ovens and 8 dugout pits while items recovered included 122,600 litres of crude oil, 89, 850 litres of AGO, 7 vehicles, 18 pumping machines, one outboard engine, one speedboat and 6 assorted ammunitions.
Director Defence Media Operations at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Major General Musa Danmadami disclosed this on Thursday during the regular bi-weekly media briefing on activities and operational successes being recorded in the various operational theaters within all the six geo-political zones of the country.
“Troops also arrested 16 suspected economic saboteurs. All recovered items, arrested suspects have been handed over to the relevant authority for further action. Additionally, it is worthy to mention that a total of Eighty Two Million Four Hundred and Forty Five Thousand One Hundred and Fifty Naira (N82, 445, 150.00) only were denied the oil thefts during the period in focus,” he said.
According to Major General Danmadami, the military achieved the feats as well as significant results by using a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic means to conduct the operations in the various operational theatres across the country.
According to him, the land, maritime and air components of the Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe as well as other operations in the South South zone of the country have sustained the efforts in ensuring a relatively safe and peaceful environment thereby enabling thriving business activities in the region.
“In sustaining this, troops conducted operational activities at the waterways, bush paths, creeks, cities, towns of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers State.
‘’During these operations, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE in the conduct of Operation OCTOPUS GRIP and other Operations discovered and destroyed 57 illegal refining sites, 27 wooden boats, 158 storage tanks, 149 ovens and 8 dugout pits. Troops also recovered 122,600 litres of crude oil, 89,850 litres of AGO, 7 vehicles, 18 pumping machines, 1 outboard engine, 1 speedboat, 6 assorted ammunitions, 1 weapon and 1 tricycle.
“Troops also arrested 16 suspected economic saboteurs. All recovered items, arrested suspects have been handed over to the relevant authority for further action. Additionally, it is worthy to mention that a total of Eighty Two Million Four Hundred and Forty Five Thousand One Hundred and Fifty Naira (N82, 445, 150.00) only were denied the oil thefts during the period in focus”, he said.
Major General Danmadami also disclosed that troops specifically bombarded location rife with illegal refining activities at Okoro Nyong and Ndele.
”Relatedly, the air component of Operation DELTA SAFE between 2 and 3 June 2023 conducted air reconnaissance and air interdiction operation at Okoro Nyong and Ndele. Overhead, these locations which were observed to be rife with illegal refining activities with about 6 motorcycles sighted. Consequently, the locations was bombarded and destroyed while the illegal refined products and equipment were engulfed in flames as a result of the air strike”, he said.
Major General Danmadami also disclosed that troops and other security agencies similarly recorded significant success in the fight against insecurity in other geo-political zones of the country in the last two weeks such as eliminating 42 bandits, terrorists and other criminals in various operations in North Central and North West.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami
further noted that the troops apprehended 13 suspects in Irekpeni community along Lokoja-Kabba-Okene road in Kogi State, adding that the troops recovered a mobile phone containing numbers of four suspected ISWAP terrorists on the watch list of security agencies.
He added that following a useful tip-off, seven kidnappers’ informants and collaborators were apprehended in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of Nasarawa State while gallant troops also arrested 86 suspected criminals and rescued nine kidnapped civilians across the two zones within the period under review.
On the operations in the North West, Major General Danmadami said the troops of Operations Hadarin Daji and other operations eliminated 38 bandits, apprehended 10 and rescued 24 kidnapped civilians.
He said the troops also recovered 20 AK47 rifles, 92 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 894 rounds of 7.62mm special, 2 PKT gun, 28 AK47 magazines, eight rounds of 9mm ammunition, 83 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm special, five dane guns, and three IEDs.
“Other items include 19 motorcycles, 10 mobile phones, three boafeng radio and 34 cattle. Equally, the air component had between June 2 and June 6, conducted air interdiction operation at a terrorist leader’s enclave in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara after they had observed that the area was bristling with terrorist activities.
“Accordingly, the target was attacked with rockets neutralising several terrorists. Also, on June 4, similar operation was carried within Batsari, Danmusa and Jibia Local Government Areas of Katsina State as well as Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara following intelligence on terrorists converging at these locations.
“Consequently, the target areas were engaged with rockets with several terrorists neutralized by the air strikes,” he added.
