According to the Defence Headquarters, the military forces involved in Operation Delta Safe have successfully identified and rendered inoperative a total of 53 illicit refining plants. Additionally, they have managed to retrieve pilfered petroleum products and capture 19 individuals suspected of engaging in oil theft within a span of seven days.
During a press briefing held in Abuja on Thursday, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media actions, provided information regarding the actions of the Armed Forces of Nigeria around the nation.
According to Buba, there has been a consistent and ongoing effort by the military to combat the issue of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region, resulting in the maintenance of a favorable level of progress.
According to his statement, the military personnel uncovered and eradicated a total of 54 excavated pits, 66 watercrafts, 138 containers, 253 cooking apparatuses, two mechanical devices for pumping, eight high-speed water vessels, 17 flexible tubes, 18 cylindrical containers, and two pressurized cylinders.
According to the statement, the military reportedly seized a total of 983,350 liters of stolen crude oil, 144,980 liters of illegally refined AGO, and 71,650 liters of DPK.
According to the speaker, the military personnel successfully eliminated one individual involved in criminal activities, liberated three individuals who were being held captive, and retrieved various items including a counterfeit firearm, 18 automobiles, and a flashlight.
In the southeastern region, Buba said that the military forces of operation UDO KA carried out an impromptu operation, resulting in the apprehension of individuals alleged to be affiliated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the Ikwo and Okigwe Local Government Areas of Ebonyi and Imo States, respectively, within the last week.
According to his statement, the military forces successfully eliminated five individuals involved in acts of terrorism, apprehended a total of twelve individuals suspected of engaging in criminal activities, and successfully liberated seven individuals who had been unlawfully abducted.
As to his statement, the military personnel successfully retrieved two firearms of domestic origin, four rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition, one barrel for a FN rifle, ingredients for improvised explosive devices (IEDs), ten water gel explosives, three detonators, and one detonating wire, among many other items.
All objects that were successfully recovered, suspects who were apprehended, and hostages who were successfully rescued were afterwards sent to the appropriate authority for further investigation and necessary follow-up procedures.
According to the spokesperson for the defense, the military has successfully identified and eliminated several criminal “safe havens” in different operational areas.
The individual disclosed that perpetrators utilized national parks, game reserves, and forests throughout the nation as their clandestine locations.
The military has discovered a number of these “safe havens” and activities are being directed towards securing their full dismantlement.
In recent times, military forces conducted an operation in the southeastern region, targeting a specific location suspected to serve as a hideout. Upon their invasion, the troops discovered activities of an extremely disturbing nature within the encampments, which are deemed inappropriate for public disclosure.
The speaker asserted that this information indicates that the fanatics in question engage in cannibalism, consuming other individuals and perpetrating various nefarious actions.
