Mariam Sanni
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters, DHQ has disclosed that the military troops had denied the oil theft and economic sabotage in the south south region of an estimated sum of over N10billion (N10,533,131,470.00) during the second quarter of 2024.
This was made known by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba during a press briefing in Abuja.
He added that troops also recovered 2,783 weapons, 64,547 ammunitions.
According to him, the breakdown for the period includes and is not limited to the following: 1,169 AK47 rifles, 36,273 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 14,764 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 713 assorted arms and 9,850 assorted ammo.
He explained that the 9,225,149 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,874,916 litres of illegally refined AGO, 29,900 litres of DPK and 31,380 litres of PMS amongst other item.
“​Troops of Op DELTA SAFE maintained the momentum against the activities of crude oil theft during the second quarter of the year. Troops continued to find and destroyed illegal refining sites as well as arrest the perpetrators of oil theft.
“During the period, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE neutralized 14 violent extremist and arrested 455 persons involved in crude oil theft. Troops also denied the oil theft of 9,225,149 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,874,915 litres of AGO, 29,900 litres of DPK and 31,380 litres of PMS.
“ Furthermore, troops recovered 2,752 assorted weapons and destroyed 243 wooden boats, 2,752 assorted ammunitions and 543 illegal refining sites.
Furthermore, Major General Buba noted that troops neutralized 2,245 terrorists, arrested 3,682 suspected terrorists and other criminal elements as well as rescued 1,993 kidnapped hostages.