The Defence Headquarters on Friday said that troops engaged in counter-oil theft and security operations across Nigeria have uncovered and dismantled 16 illegal refinery sites in the Niger Delta over the past week.
Security forces, during the operations, also deactivated 29 crude oil cooking ovens, 31 dug-out pits, and 21 storage tanks, while arresting 11 suspected crude oil thieves and saboteurs.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, who stated this, also said troops successfully prevented the siphoning of crude oil worth over N536.7 million, adding that they confiscated 48 smuggling boats and rescued kidnapped victims.
According to him, the operations led to the recovery of: 392,174 litres of stolen crude oil, 138,757 litres of illegally refined diesel, AGO, 830 litres of petrol, PMS, and 375 litres of kerosene (DPK).
Other recovered items include pumping machines, drilling equipment, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones, and vehicles.
The defense spokesman added that troops also conducted raids, ambushes, and clearance operations targeting terrorist groups, bandits, and other criminal elements in multiple regions, resulting in the neutralization of several terrorists and The arrest of gunrunners, oil theft collaborators, and violent extremists
In Anambra and Imo states, he said troops arrested three suspected terrorists and rescued four kidnapped victims while in Delta and Rivers States, security forces detained six criminals, including a suspected kidnapping kingpin.
Kangye further stated that troops conducted clearance operations in Borno and Yobe States, neutralizing several terrorists and arresting key insurgents, including a senior fighter, Abdullahi Ali.
According to him, security forces successfully repelled terrorist attacks and destroyed improvised explosive devices, IEDs, planted along key routes, stressing that military units engaged terrorists in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kebbi States, eliminating threats and recovering weapons, radios, and stolen vehicles.
Kangye reaffirmed the military’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, urging citizens to report suspicious activities.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria will continue to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities to protect Nigerians in line with our Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct for Internal Security Operations,” he stated.
