…as military arrest IPOB terrorist commander, neutralises 140 terrorists
By Joy Odor
The Director, Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General Edward Buba has on Thursday warned Nigeria citizens never to give terrorism any oxygen to thrive in our nation, rather see themselves as the outstretched arm of the military.
This even as Nigeria troops at FOB Orsu in the South East theatre operations arrested an IPOB terrorist leader, identified as Pius Iguh who is a founding father of ESN group in Orsu general area of Imo State.
General Buba who made this known in his address while briefing newsmen on the ongoing Armed Forces military operations in Abuja informed that during the week under review, troops neutralised 140 terrorists, arrest 135 suspected persons while 18 perpetrators of oil theft was also arrested.
According to him, the troops rescued 76 kidnapped hostages and denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of One Billion Seven Hundred and Fifty One Million Eight Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand Five Hundred and Fifty Naira (N1,751,886,550.00) only in the South South.
All these achievements were recorded at the ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations of the armed forces that dealt significant blows to terrorist capabilities.
The DDMO confirmed that the Troops have denied these terrorists from accomplishing their strategic objectives as the war wages.
He maintained that the troops have continue to find innovative solutions to the challenges faced in the conduct of operations and retain operational flexibility and deepen operational successes across the various theatres of operation.
Also narrating the troops efforts, Gen Buba opined that the troops at FOB Amaruku conducted a raid that resulted in arrest of another IPOB terrorist commander identified as
Emmanuel Onwugu and was arrested in Mbano LGA of Abia State.
“Relatedly, troops and security forces in a combined sting operation arrested a notorious cult leader named Ifeanyi Rock.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 241 assorted weapons and 3,254 assorted ammunition.
“The breakdown as follows: 141 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, 2 FN rifles, 17 fabricated rifles, 26 dane guns, 13 pump action guns, 4 locally made pistols, one barreta pistol, 2 bayonets and 42 AK47 magazines.
“Others are: 2,016 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 970 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 33 rounds 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 76 rounds of 9mm ammo, 113 live cartridges, 2 baofeng radios, 3 vehicles, 31 motorcycles, 18 mobile phones and the sum of N79,052,150.00 and 19$ only amongst other items.
“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 33 crude oil cooking ovens, 19 dugout pits, 41 boats, 70 drums, 22 storage tanks and 47 illegal refining sites.
“Other items recovered include 13 speedboats, one tricycle, 4 motorcycles, 3 vehicles among others. Troops recovered 1,122,710 litres of stolen crude oil and 557,210 litres of illegally refined AGO” Gen Buba said.
The DDMO assures that the military would defeat the terrorists on the battlefield and in their hiding places in order that the country can flourish again.
