Troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria under Operation ATWASE in the conduct of Operation SWIFT RESPONSE have recovered 1,542 jerricans of Premium Motor Spirit, 311 bags of 50kg foreign rice and a truck loaded with substances suspected to be cannabis sativa from smugglers of contraband in the border area, bushes and waterside in Ogun and Kwara States.
The Defence Headquarters made this known, at the Bi-weekly press briefing on the operational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other Security agencies from the various operational theatres in the 6 geopolitical zones of the Country, in Abuja.
Speaking to newsmen, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami who noted that the military have continued to clamp down on criminals explained that all the Items recovered during the raid have been handed over to Nigeria Customs Service in Ogun State and Kwara State for further necessary action.
Within the period under review covering from 11 to 25 August 2022, Danmadami
said the troops of Operation DELTA SAFE in the South South zone has continued the war against oil theft and illegal bunkering and other criminal activities in the Niger Delta to sustain a conducive environment for economic activities to thrive in the region of the Country
Consequently, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE in the conduct of operations, OCTOPUS GRIP and Operation DAKAR DA BARAWO conducted operational activities in creeks, villages, communities and towns, according to the DMO.
During the operation, troops discovered and destroyed several illegal refining sites with cumulative total value of One Billion Three Hundred and Thirteen Million Twenty Thousand Two Hundred Forty Two Naira (N1,313,020,242.00) only of crude oil.
Danmadami added that the troops also recovered Two Billion Three Hundred Seventy Four Million Six Hundred and Seven Thousand Four Hundred and Seventy One Naira (N2,374,607,471.00) only of AGO, Four Million Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Six Hundred and Twenty Five Naira (N4,650,625.00) only of PMS and Fifteen Million Nine Hundred and Eighty One Thousand Naira (N15,981,000.00) only of DPK.
Consequently, a grand total of Three Billion Seven Hundred and Eight Million Two Hundred and Fifty Nine Thousand Three Hundred and Thirty Eight Naira worth of products were denied the oil thieves.
In the North East, the Director disclosed that the air component of Operation HADIN KAI on 20 August 2022 carried out strikes on terrorists enclaves in Sambisa forest and the Tumbuns in Borno State with various degree of successes recorded.
Major General Danmadami stated that “Acting on credible intelligence about the gathering of terrorists at a location revealed to be the enclave of a notorious terrorist being hosted by a top ranking commander, believed to be the Islamic State of West Africa Province leader of Sambisa forest who took over the leadership after the demise of Abubakar Shekau.
“Consequently, the air strikes was carried out on the enclave. Feedback revealed that 25 of the terrorists were neutralized in the strikes with 18 serious wounded. Among those neutralize was a high profile commander known as Uzaifa, who was the ‘MINZIR’, which connotes the fourth in line of the terrorist leadership structure.
“A similar air strikes was also conducted in the Tumbuns near Lake Chad at a location revealed to be the training camp of the terrorists. Report gathered revealed that scores of the terrorists were neutralized in the strikes. All recovered items and rescued civilians were handed over to the relevant authorities while the surrendered Boko Haram Terrorist members and their families were profiled for further action” he affirmed.
In the South East region, the DHQ said Troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies have sustained their operation to curb the illegal activities of the Proscribe Indigenous People of Biafra in the South East zone and restore normalcy to the region.
The military high command however commended the efforts of troops in the various theatres of operation across the Country.
