The Defence Headquarters says the land, maritime and air component of the Joint Task Force Operations troops have sustained the effort in ensuring a safe environment for business activities to thrive in the country.
The Director, Defence Media Operations of the DHQ, who was represented by Brigadier General Abdullahi Ibrahim, in Abuja stated that troops in the South-South zone of the country conducted patrol and raids aimed at denying criminal elements freedom of action.
He said the troops conducted swamp buggy and anti-illegal oil bunkering operations in the creeks, waterways, high seas, roads, towns and cities of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Cross River State respectively.
According to him, On 17 June 2023, troops raided suspected criminals hideouts in Akpabuyo in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State and arrested 14 suspected criminals who has been terrorizing the general area with 2 locally fabricated guns and 2 axes.
Speaking on operations that took place on 25 June 2023, following a tip off, Abdullahi said the troops conducted patrol to suspected criminal camps within South Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and had a meeting engagement with the criminals.
The Major General revealed that the troops recovered 5 AK47 rifles, 2 RPG bombs, 7 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1 pumping machine, 1 axe and more in the course of the operation.
In a similar operation, Abdullahi said
troops of Operation DELTA SAFE also discovered and destroyed 30 illegal refining sites, 125 storage tanks, 227 ovens, 11 dugout pits and 21 wooden boats, as well as denied oil thieves a total of Five Hundred Three Million, Six Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Five Hundred naira (N503,660,500.00) in the period under focus.
He further said that Troops also recovered 1,675,700 litres of crude oil, 74,500 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 10 vehicles, 20 motorcycles, 8 weapons and 330 assorted ammunitions.
The Brigadier General also revealed that Troops equally arrested 42 economic saboteurs and all recovered items and apprehended economic saboteurs have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action.
According to him, a total of Five Hundred Three Million Six Hundred and Sixty Thousand Five Hundred naira (N503,660,500.00) only were denied the oil thefts during the period in focus.
Abdullahi stated that on the 16th of June 2023, “the air component conducted air interdiction operation at Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State and the location was observed to be active with illegal refining sites, equipment, reservoirs and wooden boats loaded with illegal refining products.
“Accordingly, the location was engaged with rockets and destroyed the illegal refining sites, the products and the equipment in the strike.
“Also, between 17 and 25 June 2023, a similar air interdiction operation was conducted at Idama, Alakri and Samki general area of River State.
“Consequently, the location was bombarded with rockets and Credible information revealed that all the equipment and the illegal refined products were all destroyed in the air strikes” Abdullahi posted.
He however urged Nigerians to continue to provide prompt and creditable information on the activities of terrorists and other criminal elements in their respective areas
