Troops of Operation Delta Safe, have unveiled and destroyed 34 illegal refining sites and arrested 59 suspected oil thieves, among other criminal elements in two weeks.
This was revealed by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Military headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, while briefing Journalists on Thursday in Abuja.
Meanwhile, Buba said the troops also destroyed 38 dugout pits, 21 boats, 57 storage tanks, 10 vehicles, three tapping hoses, four drum receivers, 89 cooking ovens, six pumping machines and three outboard engines.
Adding that the troops also recovered 696,250 liters of stolen crude oil, 54,400 liters of illegally refined AGO and 1,200 liters of PMS, two motorcycles, four weapons and 78 assorted ammunition.
Buba said the troops had maintained momentum against the activities of crude oil theft in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and other states in the Niger Delta region and denied criminals freedom of action.
In the South East, Buba said troops of operation UDO KA conducted raid operations on terrorists hideouts, eliminated and arrested suspects in Abia, Enugu, Imo and Anambra States during the period.
He said the troops neutralized 11 IPOB/ESN terrorists, arrested 20 and rescued 15 kidnapped hostages as well as recovery of several calibers of arms and ammunition.
He added that the air component of Operation UDO KA also bombed targeted terrorists’ areas with rockets and cannons, neutralizing several of them and destroying their structures.
He disclosed that all recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages, have been handed over to relevant authorities for further action.
