By Emmanuel Obisue
Nigerian troops have neutralized 254 terrorists, and have arrested 264 others in its continuous quest to stamp out insecurity across the country.
This was disclosed in a statement on Friday by Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, adding that Nigerian troops also arrested 104 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 73 kidnapped hostages.
The General noted that ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations has prevented terrorists from accomplishing their strategic objectives.
He added that in the Niger Delta region, “troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Two Billion Six Hundred and Two Million Nine Hundred and Two Thousand and Eighty Hundred Naira (N2,602,902,800.00) only”.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 378 assorted weapons and 4,705 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: 131 AK47 rifles, 2 FN rifles, 2 G3 rifle, 3 SMGs, 69 locally fabricated guns, 57 pump action guns, 7 pistols, 14 locally fabricated pistols, 5 revolver rifles, 4 revolver pistols, 45 dane guns, 4 locally made single barrel, and 2 hand grenades, 7 RPG Launchers, one RPG bomb, one locally made double barrel gun, 17 dane gun double barrel and IEDs.
“Others are: 2,444 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,712 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 80 rounds of 9mm ammo, 61 rounds of 5.45 x 39mm ammo, 6 rounds of 0.44 inch ammo, 415 live cartridges, 10 empty cases of cartridges, 11 magazines, 18 vehicles, 40 motorcycles, 74 mobile phones, 4 baofeng radios and the sum of N748,430.00 amongst other items.
“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 131 dugout pits, 70 boats, 125 storage tanks, 12 motorcycles, 2 tricycles and 12 vehicles. Other items recovered incl 43 cooking ovens, 12 pump machines, 6 speedboats, one outboard engine and 67 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 3,282,250 litres of stolen crude oil, 224,050 litres of illegally refined AGO and 5,925 litres of DPK,” the statement added.
Buba assured that the Nigerian military will continue to find innovative solutions to the challenges in order to achieve the top priorities of securing the country and protect citizens from harm caused by these evil elements across the country.
