The Nigerian Troops have moved to fight against oil thieves and illegal oil refining in the South-south Zone.
During the process, the troops of Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO and Operation OCTOPUS GRIP recovered a total 3,074,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 3,810,000 litres of crude oil, 14,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit and 4,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosine.
The Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Bernard Onyeuko made this known during Bi-weekly briefing in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
General Onyeuko said that “troops arrested 26 oil thieves, 29 vehicles, 68 wooden boats, 9 speed boats amongst other equipment were impounded.”
According to him, troops of Forward Operation Base Bakura Operation HADARIN DAJI responded to distress call of terrorists activities at RafinDankura in Bakura Local Government Area of Zamfara State, North West, Nigeria and engaged the terrorists in a shootout who were trying to abduct innocent civilians.
General Onyeuko said that “after the encounter troops were able to rescue the six kidnapped civilians and neutralised two bandits in the process.”
Items recovered include; Two AK 47, 1x 36 Hand grenade, two x Cell phones and the sum of 211,915.00.
“Similarly, troops made contacts with marauding terrorists at Maigora in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State and neutralised twi terrorists in the process,” he stated.
The Director noted that troops of WHIRL STROKE while on patrol at Udei general area in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, North Central Zone, impounded a trailer with registration number ABUJA KWL 846 XB along Udei-Makurdi Lafia road fully loaded with cut to size vandalized rail tracks and sleepers.
Consequently, all the seven persons on board the vehicle were arrested and the vehicle and the suspects were handed over to the relevant authority for further action.
Relatedly, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE arrested one Mr Ardo Manu Abdulrahman Marenewo a suspected gun runner who specialized in leasing of arms to kidnappers and other criminal elements in Taraba State.
He said that “item recovered from the suspect includes 4 cell phones and the sum of 74,340.00.”
Similarly, troops on clearance patrol arrested four suspected kidnappers at Igu male Council Ward of Ado Local Government Area Benue State All arrested criminals have been handed over to the Police for further necessary action.
Furthermore, troops carried out a raid operation at a bandits hideout at Mbahuwuhe village in Utange council ward in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue state.
According to him, “during the operation, three bandits were neutralised and a kidnapped civilian Mr Auva Tisa who was on blind fold in the hideout was rescued with injuries and he is presently undergoing treatment.
“Some items including 1x Motorcycle, 2 cell phones among others were recovered before the hideout was brought down,” he started.
Furthermore, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN arrested two suspected gun runners, Messrs Augustine Davou Nyam and Pam Nyam (AKA TRIGGER) during an operation at Zawan and Du Communities.
General Onyeuko said that “troops recovered one locally fabricated AK47 rifle, one dane gun and three cutlasses, and arrested two notorious criminals, Mr Rufai Usman and Abubakar Ahmed were arrested by troops at Ex-ladi general area.”
Also, based on credible intelligence troops conducted a clearance operation in conjunction with vigilantes at Kan Duniya Village, BarkinLadi Local Government Area, Plateau State, neutralized one Mr Safiyanu Bala 25 years notorious bandit and kidnapper.
General Onyeuko said that “troops on fighting patrol in pursuit of 2 suspected kidnappers around Sara High Ground Mangu Local Government Area Plateau State on a motorcycle, recovered 2 x AK47 rifles, 101 x rounds of 7.62mm special, 5 x magazines, 1 x motorcycle, 1 x iron digger and 2 x black jackets amongst others.”
He said that troops conducted search operations in the surrounding bush and rescued 3 kidnapped civilians; 2 females and a male.
Similarly, on the same day troops arrested 10 armed robbery suspects at Kafanchan Town, Jema’a Local Government Area Kaduna State. Items recovered from the criminals include: TV, DVD, gas cookers, Mattresses, woofer, phones, and scissors, among others.
The suspected criminals are presently undergoing interrogations.
According to him, “troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the North East Zone have intensified the tempo of their operations as the troops carried out several operational activities in Buduwa, Bama-Pulka road, Tuwe Village, Konduga-Kawuri road, Brema in Damboa Motor Park, Tashangoto, Benishek, Kukaneta all in Borno State, North East Zone.”
General Onyeuko noted that these operations led to the rescue of abducted persons, neutralization of terrorists, arrest of terrorist’s members, recovery of arms and ammunition and other security related items.
Consequently, troops neutralised 11 terrorists, arrested 11 and recovered 14 rustled cattle, 2 AK47 rifles, 3 bicycles, 2 locally made guns, 90 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 1 golf 2 car.
Also, members of Boko Haram terrorists have continued to surrender to own troops at different locations in the theatre, a total of 4,770 of them comprising 864 adult males, 1,415 women and 2,490 children.
All surrendered Boko Haram Terrorist/Islamic State West Africa Province members and families were profiled and documented while all arrested and recovered items were handed over to the appropriate authority for further actions.
General Onyeuko noted that a combined team of security agencies led by 302 Artillery Regiment carried out Raid operation on proscribed Independent People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network camps at Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area, South East, Zone.
He said that “after a fierce gun battle two of the criminals were neutralised.”
According to him, several items were recovered from their camp which includes 2 AK47 rifles, 2 pump action rifles, one dane gun, 3 magazines, 5 water gel Improvised Explosive Device, 3 generator sets, one SUV and 2 cell phones.
Furthermore, on 27 June, 2022 troops discovered a notorious hide of late Double Lion, a notorious terrorist after a shot out one criminal member of the gang was neutralized. Items recovered from the camp include one dane gun, 8 vehicles (different makes).
He said that “all recovered items are in own custody.”
Meanwhile, the Military High Command has commended the efforts of the troops in the various theatres of operation across the Country.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
