The military high command said, on Thursday, that troops on operation in the Niger Delta area foiled the theft of crude oil to the tune of N388,469,650.00 and arrested 22 suspected oil thieves in the process.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Buba Edward, disclosed this in Abuja while briefing journalists on the activities of the military in the last one week.
Edward 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.
Giving an update on the counter-insurgency fight, the military spokesman said a total of 191 terrorists were killed while 184 were arrested in the last one week.
He added that troops arrested two high-profile Islamic State for West African Province terrorists in theTafa and Suleja local government areas of Niger State.
The terrorist kingpins were arrested during clearance operations conducted by troops in collaboration with other security operatives on September 21.
He said, “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.”
Edward said troops rescued 91 kidnap victims, adding that 104 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and their families surrendered to troops across various theatres of operation.
