By Joy Odor
Sequel to the partnership between the armed forces and the citizens in combating terrorism and violent extremist groups, the military through its operations has continues to prevail against the effects of insurgency with an ultimate goal of securing the country against perpetrators of insecurity for national progress.
The Director, Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General Edward Buba who disclosed the ongoing military operations by the Armed Forces in a press statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday, informed that the military neutralized 31 terrorists and arrested 81 of them.
According to him, the troops also arrested 11 perpetrators of oil theft, rescued 10 kidnapped hostages while a total of 63 BH/ISWAP terrorists and their families surrendered to troops across theaters of operation.
“Troops denied oil theft of an estimate sum of Two Hundred and One Million Four Hundred and Two Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty Naira (N201,420,260.00). Additionally, troops recovered 65 assorted weapons and 391 assorted ammunition.
“The breakdown as follows: 26 AK47 rifles, 4 locally made rifles, 6 dane guns, 2 locally made pistols, 7 magazines, body armour ammo among others.
Others are: 345 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 19 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 7 rounds of 9mm ammo, 36 live cartridges, 10 rounds 7.62 x 39mm war heads, 48 motorcycles, 12 mobile phones and 43 and the sum of N327,960.00.
Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 7 dugout pits, 9 boats, 25 storage tanks, 39 cooking ovens, 3 pumping machines and 14 illegal refining sites.
Troops recovered 367,300 litres of stolen crude oil, 11,353 litres of illegally refined AGO, 12,500 litres of DPK and 5,000 litres PMS” he said.
The DDMO affirmed that the ongoing military operations would continue to set the stage for social and economic progress, noting that the ultimate goal is to secure the country through the defeat of those threatening safety of citizens and perpetrating insecurity across the country.
