Troops from Operation Delta Safe, under the command of the Defence Headquarters, demonstrated remarkable efficiency in recovering 578,900 liters of pilfered crude oil, 454,330 liters of Automotive Gas Oil obtained through illicit means, and 10,000 liters of Dual Purpose Kerosene in the last seven days.
Additionally, the Defence Headquarters disclosed that 50 illicit oil refining sites in the Niger Delta region were obliterated, accompanied by the arrest of 51 suspects.
Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, shared this information during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, providing insights into the military’s activities.
Buba confirmed that four criminals were taken out by the troops, accompanied by the recovery of arms and ammunition.
He outlined that in addition to their accomplishments, troops obliterated 245 dugout pits, 31 boats, 69 storage tanks, one tricycle, 23 vehicles, 162 cooking ovens, one pumping machine, and three outboard engines.
He reported that in the Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River on November 14, the troops successfully neutralized a notorious criminal and recovered a locally made pistol.
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‘On Nov. 15, troops with hybrid forces raided suspected drugs peddlers’ hideout in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta and arrested six suspects.’
‘The maritime component of Operation Delta Safe on Nov. 17, conducted a search and rescue operation following a distress call on a missing Cameroonian-flagged motor Fishing Vessel MFV AFKI with registration number UK12 and number AFKI 8432780.’
‘After frantic surveillance, maritime component traced and made contact with the vessel 17 nautical miles off Pennington terminal.’
‘The vessel was recovered with two foreign crew members onboard,’ he said.
Buba disclosed that in the South East, troops from Operation UDO KA neutralized six criminals, arrested 14 individuals suspected of being affiliated with IPOB/ESN, and rescued two hostages.
He further stated that the troops recovered a pump-action gun, a double-barrel gun, a locally made pistol, six rounds of 9mm ammunition, a motorcycle, and two mobile phones, alongside other items.
He reiterated that the recovered items, arrested suspects, and rescued hostages were transferred to the relevant authorities for further proceedings, as per his statement.