Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Troops intensified battle against oil thieves in the South South recovering products worth a total of Four Hundred and Seventy One Million, Two Hundred and Five Thousand Four Hundred and Twenty Five Naira (N471,205,425.00).
The Director, Defence Media Operations Major General Musa Danmadami disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at the biweekly media briefing on troops activities and operational successes being recorded in the various operational theaters within the 6 geo-political zones of the Country
He said Troops of Joint Task Force, Operation DELTA SAFE conducted Operation OCTOPUS GRIP in Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States respectively, discovered and destroyed 81 illegal refining sites, 254 storage tanks, 173 cooking ovens, 118 dugout pits, and 36 wooden boats.
General Danmadami said, the land and maritime component of Operation DELTA SAFE troops raided suspected gunmen enclave at Ebem Community in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State, arrested 13 suspects and recovered 2 pump action guns, 2 double barrel rifles, 3 dane guns, 1 locally made pistol, 3 cartridges and 6 machetes.
He also revealed that in South East, following an intelligent report on the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network at Oji River town in Oji River LGA of Enugu State, troop carried out a blocking operation, after the encounter with the criminal who fled, troops recovered 1 AK 47 rifle, 1 pistol, 3 AK 47 magazine loaded with 47 rounds of 7.62 mm special, 9 rounds of 9 mm ammunition and 3 vehicles, while 2 kidnaped victims were rescued.
General Danmadami also said, Troops in conjunction with other security agencies on patrol at Izombe community in Aguta Local Government Area of Imo State came in contact with Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network criminals. Troops neutralized 2 criminals while other fled.
Troops in conjunction with other security agencies in the South East region have continued to sanitize the region in the fight against the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network as operational activities were conducted in villages, forest cities and towns of Imo, Anambra, Enugu and Abia States respectively
Troops in the South West Zone of the Country has sustained the fight against smugglers of contraband goods and other criminal elements within the general area of operation. Troops of the joint border patrol conducted operational activities at the bush path, riverine, towns and cities of Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun and Lagos States.
He said, cumulatively, troops of Operation AWATSE in the conduct of Operation SWIFT RESPONSE recovered 447 x 50kg bags of foreign rice, 125 jerrycans of 25litres of Premium Motor Spirit and 1 vehicle. All recovered items were handed over to the Nigerian Customs for further action.
General Danmadami urged Nigerians to continue to provide prompt and creditable information on the activities of terrorists and other criminal elements, in their respective areas.
