…Destroy 43 illegal refining sites, deny criminals N765.65m worth of stolen crude oil

By Kingsley Omonobi

The Defence headquarters on Thursday disclosed that troops fighting to rid the country of criminal elements, in the last one week neutralized 197 terrorists and arrested 332 others including kidnappers, crude oil thieves and bandits.

Troops also rescued 251 kidnapped hostages, discovered and destroyed 43 illegal refining sites, as well as denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of N765,65million (seven hundred and sixty-five million, six hundred and fifty-four thousand, one hundred naira.

Furthermore, troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 29 dugout pits, 22 boats and 26 storage tanks. Troops recovered include 66 cooking ovens, 85 drums, 8 vehicles, 3 mobile phones. Troop’s recovered 728,360 litres of stolen crude oil, 143,450 litres of illegally refined AGO, 1,100 litres of DPK and 18,750 litres of PMS.

Director of Defence Media Operations, Major Gen Edward Buba while making this known said that during the encounters, troops recovered 180 assorted weapons and 5,123 assorted ammunition comprising 2 PKT guns, one fabricated Artillery gun, one G3 rifle, 73 AK47 rifles, 17 locally fabricated gun, 21 Dane guns, 2 pump action guns, 2 revolver rifles, one short Dane gun, 3 double barrel guns, 3 single barrel guns, one pistol, 4 locally fabricated pistols, 5 fabricated berretta pistols, one berretta pistol, one jojef magnum pump action gun, one Exp 64 semi auto rifle, 10 hand grenades, 3 60mm mortar bombs, bandoliers and 10 fabricated Arty bombs, 47 motorcycles, 21 mobile phones and the sum of N1,236,200.00 as well as CFA 608,000.00 amongst other items.

Giving details of the operations, Gen Buba said, “In the North East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralized 83 terrorists, arrested 71 suspects and rescued 48 kidnappers hostages.

“Troops recovered 2 PKT guns, 35 AK47 rifles, 9 fabricated rifles, 10 Dane guns, 3 single barrel guns, 3 60mm mortar bombs, 10 grenades, 21 magazines, 1,223 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 742 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 235 rounds of 7.62 units 54mm ammo, 240 rounds of 7.62 units 51mm ammo, 132 rounds of 5.56 units 54mm, 2 bandoliers, 3 IED batteries, 3 IED cells, 4 baofeng radios, 4 motorcycles and one mobile phone only amongst others.

“On 3 June 2024, air component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted air interdiction at newly uncovered BH/ISWAP/JAS terrorists enclave at South of Mallam Fatori, Northern Tumbuns of Borno State.

“On 4 June 2024, combined troops in conjunction with hybrid forces conducted offensive operation to BH/ISWAP terrorists enclave and made contact in Konduga LGA of Borno State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 15 terrorists and rescued 28 kidnapped hostages.

“Troops also recovered 11 AK47 rifles, 4 fabricated rifles, 2 PKT guns, 3 dane guns, 2 hand grenades, 2 bandoliers, 532 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 342 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 103 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 7 magazines, 2 baofeng radios, 4 motorcycles and one mobile phone amongst others.

“Between 4 and 10 June 2024, troops in separate offensive operations made contact with BH/ISWAP/JAS terrorists in Kukawa, Damboa, Nganzai, Ngala, Bama, Gwoza and Konduga LGAs of Borno State.

“Following a fire fights, troops neutralized 26 terrorists and recovered 13 AK47 rifles, 5 fabricated rifles, 4 dane guns, 3 hand grenades, 2 x 60mm mortar bomb, 267 rounds of 7.62mm special, 150 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 132 rounds of 5.56 x 54mm ammo, 20 linked 7.62 x 51mm ammo, 5 magazines, 3 motorcycles and 4 bicycles amongst others.

“On 8 June 2024, following report, troops in separate sting operations raided terrorists/human traffickers hideout in Yola South and Maiha LGAs of Adamawa State. During the operations, troops arrested 14 suspects and rescued 17 suspected victims.

“Following a confirmatory ISR, the locations were observed to be active with terrorist’s activities. Subsequently, the target was acquired and attacked with rockets and cannons. Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralized and their logistics destroyed.

“In the North Central, troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralized 11 insurgents, arrested 64 violent extremists and rescued 21 kidnapped hostages.

“Troops recovered one G3 rifle, 2 revolver rifles, 2 double barrel guns, one locally made pistol, one magazine, 500 rounds of 7.62mm special and 33 rounds of 7.62mm NATO amongst others

“On 5 and 9 June 2024, troops in separate operations intercepted and arrested 12 suspected violent extremists in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State as well as Bassa, Bokkos, Riyom and Mangu LGAs of Plateau State.

“On 5 June 2024, troops responded to distress call on kidnapping of Uchu Fadan Ninzo, HRH Alh Dr Umar Musa and his wife at his Palace in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State. During the operation, troops rescued the Paramount Ruler while efforts is ongoing to rescue his wife and apprehend the perpetrators.

“On 6 June 2024, troops in separate operations raided suspected violent extremists hideouts in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State. During the operations, troops arrested 2 suspects identified as Ya’u Musa and Hassan Abdullahi.

“On 4 and 6 June 2024, troops in separate offensive operations intercepted and arrested 2 violent extremists as well as rescued one kidnapped hostage in Riyom and Barkin Ladi LGAs of Plateau State. Suspects identified as Ya’u Musa and Hassan Abdullahi.

“On 10 June 2024, troops while conducting offensive operations responded to information on activities of suspected violent extremists in Bokkos LGA of Plateau State. During the operation, troops arrested 6 suspected extremists and recovered one G3 rifle, 2 revolver rifles, one magazine and 33 rounds of 7.62mm NATO.

“On 5 and 7 June 2024, troops in separate counter/anti kidnapping operations responded to information on kidnapping incident in Riyom and Bokkos LGAs of Plateau State. During the operations, troops arrested 4 suspected violent extremists and rescued 16 kidnapped hostages.

“Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralized 6 terrorists, arrested 20 violent extremists and rescued 36 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 66 rounds of 7.62mm special and 6 cartridges amongst others.

“On 4 and 6 June 2024, following a tip-off troops in separate operations arrested 6 suspected violent extremists/kidnappers  including a female collaborator in Ardo Kola and Awe LGAs of Taraba and Nasarawa States respectively.

“During investigation, female suspect confessed to be a cook and informant for a kidnapping syndicate. During the operations, troops recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 66 rounds 7.62mm ball Special and 6 cartridges.

“On 8 and 10 June 2024, troops in separate operations responded to information on activities of suspected violent extremists/kidnappers in Takum and Keffi LGAs of Taraba and Nasarawa States respectively.

“During the operations, troops rescued 21 kidnapped hostages while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators.

“In the North West, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralized 65 terrorists, arrested 80 terrorists and rescued 54 kidnapped hostages.

“Troops recovered 29 AK47 rifles, 7 fabricated rifles, 4 dane guns, one fabricated SMG, 2 baretta pistols, 991 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 202 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 13 rounds of 9mm ammo, 14 sniper rounds, 28 AK47 magazines, one pistol magazine, 9 motorcycles and the sum of N1,236,200.00 as well as CFA 608,000.00 amongst others.

“On 4 and 5 June 2024, the air component conducted air interdiction in  in Faskari and Tsafe LGAs of Katsina and Zamfara States respectively. Following intelligence and confirmatory ISR on hibernating of terrorists kingpins Bello Turji’s and Halilu with their foot soldiers in the locations.

 “Consequently, the targets were acquired and attacked with rockets and cannons. Battle Damage Assessment and human feedback revealed that several terrorists were eliminated and their structures destroyed.

“Additionally, on 8 June 2024, air interdiction was conducted on terrorists’ enclaves at Kimpau in Safana LGA of Katsina State.

“Following intelligence report and confirmatory ISR, the targets were acquired and attacked with rockets and cannons. Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were eliminated and their structures destroyed.

 “Troops of Operation Whirl Punch neutralized 19 terrorists, arrested 18 suspects and rescued 23 kidnapped hostages.

 “Troops recovered3 AK47 rifles, 3 dane guns, one berretta pistol, one pistol magazine, 119 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 43 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 13 rounds of 9mm ammo, 6 motorcycles and 2 mobile phones amonsgt others.

“Following intelligence and confirmatory ISR on the massing up of top terrorists commanders at a known terrorist’ camp under the leadership of terrorists’ kingpin Alhaji Isiya who succeeded late terrorist’s kingpin Boderi at Tsaunin Doka in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State.

“The air component of Operation conducted air interdiction on 6 June 2024. Consequently, the target was acquired and attacked with rockets and bombs.

“Battle Damage Assessment and feedback from locals revealed that several terrorists with high profile commanders were eliminated and their logistics destroyed.

“Similarly, on the same day, following reports and confirmatory ISR air component conducted air interdiction overhead a BH/ISWAP terrorists’ camp at east of Getamiya in Shiroro LGA of Niger State.

“The location was observed to be active with terrorists activities. Consequently the target was acquired and attacked with rockets and cannons. Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralized and their logistics destroyed.

SUMMARY

20.    Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE maintained momentum against the activities of crude oil theft. Troops destroyed several illegal refining sites and recovered stolen products. Troops also conducted raid operations and arrested suspected violent extremists/cultists in Uruan and Ovia North-East LGAs of Akwa Ibom and Edo States as well as Onelga and Nembe LGAs of Rivers and Bayelsa States.

21.     Details as follows:

a.      Troops Destroy Illegal Refining Sites. Troops recovered 728,360 litres of stolen crude oil, 143,450 litres of illegally refined AGO, 1,100 litres of DPK  and 18,750 litres of PMS. Additionally, Troops discovered and destroyed 29 dugout pits, 22 boats and 26 storage tanks.  Other items recovered include 66 cooking ovens, 85 drums, 8 vehicles, 3 mobile phones and 43 illegal refining sites.

a.      Raid Operations.  On 4 and 5 June 2024, troops in conjunction with DSS operatives in separate operations raided suspected violent extremists hideouts in Uruan and Ovia North-East LGAs of Akwa Ibom and Edo States respectively. During the operations, troops arrested 2 suspects and recovered one Jojef Magnum pump action gun, one EXP 64 semi-automatic rifle, 33 cartridges and 2 vehicles.

b.      Arrest of Violent Extremists Militants/Vandals.

(1)   On 4 and 6 June 2024, troops in separate operations intercepted and arrested 4 suspected violent extremists/militants and pipeline vandals in Onelga and Nembe LGAs of Rivers and Bayelsa States respectively. During the operations, troops recovered one AK47 rifle, one double barrel gun, 3 magazines, 87 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 4 cartridges and one mobile phone.

(2)    Between 4 and 8 June 2024, following a tip-off, troops in separate operations conducted sting operations in Onelga and Nembe LGAs of Rivers and Bayelsa States as well as Ikom LGA of Cross River State. During the operations, troops arrested 6 suspected violent extremists/militants and armed robbers and recovered one AK47 rifle, one double barrel gun, one locally made pistol, 3 magazines, 87 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 24 cartridges, one motorcycle and 6 mobile phones.

b.      Offensive Operations. On 6 June 2024, troops in separate offensive operations raided suspected violent extremists hideouts in Ijaw and Nembe LGAs of Bayelsa State. During the operations, troops neutralized one extremists and arrested 4 suspects. Troops also recovered 2 AK47 rifles, one locally fabricated pistol, one double barrel gun, 14 cartridges, 2 magazines and 98 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and one mobile phone.

SUMMARY

Troops of Operstion Delta Safe apprehended 32 suspects for oil thefts and other violent extremists. Troops recovered 13 weapons and 442 assorted ammunitions.

 “Troops recovered 728,360 litres of stolen crude oil, 143,450 litres of illegally refined AGO, 1,100 litres of DPK  and 18,750 litres of PMS.

Additionally, Troops discovered and destroyed 29 dugout pits, 22 boats and 26 storage tanks.  Other items recovered include 66 cooking ovens, 85 drums, 8 vehicles, 3 mobile phones and 43 illegal refining sites.

Gen Buba further said, “The armed forces understands that the terrorists exist for the sake of war, and therefore for the sake of peace they must be eliminated.

“Our war effort is therefore designed and crafted to defeat and destroy the terrorist as well as dismantle their terror infrastructure across the country.

“Momentum is crucial to our operations and it is the reason we take the fight to the enemy and allow them no respite. Accordingly, our operations are focussed on our war efforts, our mobilization and air strikes to destroy the terrorists.