About 107 illegal petroleum product refining sites were discovered and destroyed in the Niger Delta in the last two weeks.
Also, in the last weeks 46 terrorists, bandits and other criminals across North East, North Central and North West were eliminated.
The Director, Defense Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja.
Danmadami said troops of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) raided and cleared the operators of the illegal refineries.
He said the operations were conducted at the creeks, waterways, in the sea, towns and cities of Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom with significant results.
“Troops in the conduct of Operation Octopus Grip and Operation Dakatar Da Barawo discovered and destroyed 107 illegal refining sites, 140 storage tanks, 58 reservoirs, 151 ovens, 68 dugout pits and 22 boats.
“Troops recovered 561,200 litres of crude oil, 119,000 litres of diesel, one fibre boat, five pumping machines, two outboard engines, 10 giant plastic tanks, one tricycle and six vehicles while they arrested nine suspected criminals.
“All recovered items and apprehended suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action,” he said.
Danmadami said troops responded to an election disruption report within Ogbakiri community in Emouha Local Government Area of Rivers on March 19 and arrested 12 armed thugs.
Also recovered were four AK47 rifles, one FN rifle, four AK47 magazines, one pistol loaded with two rounds of 9mm ammunition, one pump action gun, four cartridges, 16 rounds of 7.62mm special and one Hilux vehicle.
Danmadami said in the Southeast geopolitical zone, troops of the Joint Task Force, “Operation Udo Ka’’, neutralised seven members of the Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) criminals and arrested 32 persons.
He said troops also recovered five AK47 rifles, 29 pump action guns, three Dane guns, four locally-made pistols, one double-barrel gun, and two rounds of 9mm ammunition, 188 rounds of 7.62mm special and 46 empty cases of ammunition.
Items recovered were seven live cartridges, three magazines, four radios, 16 machetes, three knives, 14 motorcycles, one vehicle, five mobile phones and several pairs of uniforms and boots.
“All recovered items and apprehended suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action,’’ he said.
Danmadami said troops of Operation AWATSE continued to clamp down on criminal elements within the general area of operations in the Southwest.
He said the troops, in conjunction with operatives of the NDLEA, raided Awoyaya and General Paints areas of Ajah in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State on March 10.
They arrested 14 suspects and recovered 5kg of Indian hemp, 7kg of other illicit drugs, seven bottles of codeine, 6gm of tramadol, 5gm of methamphetamine and N3,250 during the operation.
He said the troops also apprehended seven armed thugs attempting to disrupt the March 18 elections in the zone.
“Troops recovered four AK47 rifles, three Jack knives, one cartridge gun, three mobile phones, one cutlass and 350 sachets of Indian hemp from the thugs,’’ Danmadami told newsmen.
In the North East, Danmadami said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) had neutralised 18 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists, arrested six logistics suppliers and rescued 119 abducted civilians.
He said 1,506 terrorists and members of their families comprising 154 adult males, 514 adult females and 838 children, surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre of operation.
According to him, troops also recovered 16 AK 47 rifles, one 60mm mortar bomb, 10 dane guns, 12 dummy rifles, 280 rounds of 7.62mm special, 118 rounds of 7.62 x 50mm NATO, 13 rounds of 5.56mm ammo and 10 rounds of 7.62 x 54 mm NATO ammo.
“Also recovered are one round of 12.7mm NATO, 17 AK47 magazines, one firing pin, one mechanic tools box, two knives, six motorcycles, 24 mobile phones, 41 livestock, assorted food items, one vehicle, four sim and other sundry items as well as the cash sum of N2.2 million.
“All recovered items, rescued civilians and apprehended suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action, while surrendered terrorists and members of their families are been profiled for further action,” he said.
Umoru Faruk Salifu
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