… As troops neutralizes 39 terrorists, arrested 157 terrorists, 16 perpetrators of oil theft
By Joy Odor
The Defence Media Operations (DMO) has affirmed that the ongoing counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations across the country remain critical to the armed forces’ efforts to achieve peace and ensure that violent extremist groups do not find safe haven in the country.
According to Major General Edward Buba, the Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO) while briefing newsmen on the ongoing military operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria on Thursday, said the armed forces continue to work with supportive groups to defeat any group undermining security and safety in the country.
He said during the week leading to 31 August 2023, the military neutralized 39 terrorists and arrested 157 terrorists, 16 perpetrators of oil theft.
The DMO mentioned that toops also rescued 109 kidnapped hostages and denied oil theft of the sum of Seven Hundred and Sixty-Five Million Eight Hundred and Sixty-Three Thousand Naira (N765,863,000.00) only.
“Troops recovered 55 assorted weapons and 96 assorted ammunition.
“The breakdown as follows: 12 AK47 rifles, one GPMG, one HK21 gun, one FN rifle loaded with 5 rounds of NATO ammo, 2 Dane guns, 3 fabricated rifles, one fabricated pistol, 3 locally made pistols, 11 AK47 magazines, 71 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 22 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 2 rounds of 9mm ammo, one cartridge, one bandolier, 7 rounds 7.62mm special empty cases, 24 motorcycles, 13 mobile phones, 10 bicycles and the sum of Eight Hundred and Eighty One Thousand Seven Hundred Naira (N881,700.00).
“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 71 dugout pits, 36 boats, 83 storage tanks, 5 vehicles, 4 motorcycles, 58 cooking ovens, 5 pumping machines, 3 generators, 3 speedboats and 34 illegal refining sites.
“Also, troops recovered 569,400 liters of stolen crude oil, 486,000 liters of illegally refined AGO and 59,500 liters of PMS” DMO said.
Maj Gen Buba informed that the military would continue to pursue aggressive military operations against violent extremist groups seeking to undermine the security of the country and conduct violence against the people.
Accordingly, the armed forces remains focused on its core mission and would continually make adjustments along the way to better protect citizens, while isolating and annihilating those groups constituting a security nuisance to the country.
