By Victor Akaa, Abuja.
Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE have deactivated 6 illegal refining sites, apprehended 24 suspected criminals while 11 wooden boats, 52 Gee Pee tanks, 102 metal tanks were also impounded in South South zone.
Troops had also immobilised about 17 dugout pits and 45 ovens as it also recovered over 14 pumping machines, 2 speed boats and 13 outboard engines, according to Maj. Gen. John Enenche.
Gen. Enenche who is the Coordinator Defence Media Operations disclosed this on Thursday while giving the scorecard of the military operations across the country from 14th to 20th January, 2021 in Abuja.
He said, the troops of Operation DELTA SAFE operating in the South South zone in its efforts to keep the waterways safe from criminal elements had
continued to guide, secure and protect it against criminals with the aggressive fight against economic sabotage in the zone progressively.
“Between 14 to 20 January 2021, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE conducted anti-Crude Oil Theft and illegal oil bunkering operations as well as other anti-illegal maritime activities.”
Gen. Enenche added that ,a total of 9,856.1 barrels of stolen crude oil and 1,339,000 litres of illegally refined AGO as well as 500,000 litres of DPK were recovered.
According to him, the Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA anti-crude oil team in conjunction with Forward Operating Base ESCRAVOS conducted anti illegal bunkering operations had deactivated illegal refining sites at Egwa Creek, Warri South West LGA on the 14th January, 2021.
“The illegally refining site had 7 refining units (ovens), 16 metal storage tanks, 84,000 litres and 105,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO and stolen crude oil respectively.” he explained.
Explaining further,Gen. Enenche noted that the armed forces of Nigerian troops and other security agents have conducted several ground and air operations with renewed vigor in the North West and East zones where the operations had degraded the capabilities of the criminal elements.
He said, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI with other subsidiary operations had eliminated both fewer than 35 bandits, apprehended 2 suspected bandits’ collaborators and recovered 24 rustled cows and unconfirmed number of sheep in the North West zone within the period under review
He also noted that troops of Operation TURA TAKAIBANGO in conjunction with the Air Task Force of Operation HADARIN DAJI had repelled terrorists’ attacks at Marte axis during which about 13 gun trucks were destroyed through air strikes as scores of terrorists sect decimated in Borno state,North East zone within the period.
“This occurred when the criminal elements attempted to attack troops’ location at the outskirt of Marte Town of Borno State in which, the combined troops engaged and overwhelmed the terrorists with superior firepower.
“After successfully repelling the BHT/ISWAP attack on Marte that led to the destruction of the 7 gun trucks in the combined ground and air operation, the Air Task Force also obliterated additional 6 gun trucks of the terrorists and eliminated scores of them in an attack on 16 January 2021.
“These feats were achieved when the Nigerian Air Force helicopter gunships engaged and destroyed the terrorists’ convoy of gun trucks, sighted approaching the Marte axis for reinforcement.
“The helicopter gunships also strafed the fleeing criminal elements and scores of them were neutralized.”
Enenche further disclosed that ,troops had also apprehended about 4 suspected criminals, 2 in Plateau, one each in Kaduna and Nasarawa States during its operations in North Central zone within the period under review.
According to him, the suspected criminals were arrested with some items such as tricycles (Keke Napep),motorcycle, locally fabricated rifles including AK-47 and Magazines.
Among those who were arrested are Messrs Mantau Nabo, Victor Jonathan and Stephen Yaro,
All the suspects have been profiled and have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.
The Coordinator, DMO however noted that all the operations conducted by the military troops and other security agents within the stipulated period have progressed satisfactorily.
The Military High Command had therefore encouraged the troops and personnel of other security agencies to remain unwavering and sustain the tempo to get rid of the criminals until normal returns to the troubled areas.
