Troops arrest 71 oil thieves, destroy 74 illegal refineries – DHQ

• foil attempt to steal crude oil worth N173m 

The Defence Headquarters said that crude oil products worth One Hundred Seventy Three Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty Naira (N173,985,650.00) only were denied oil thieves in Niger Delta in the past two weeks.

The Director of Defence Media Operations , DMO, Major General Musa Danmadami who disclosed this on Thursday during the biweekly media press briefing in Abuja said troops arrested a total of 71 criminals.

He said that troops of Operation DELTA SAFE who are currently conducting Operation OCTOPUS GRIP and other operations in the South South zone made the arrests after they discovered and destroyed 74 illegal refining sites.

They also destroyed 341 storage tanks, 31 wooden boats, 260 ovens and 15 dugout pits

Other items discovered includes 209,000 litres of crude oil, 145,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 4,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 27 variety of weapons, 468 assorted ammunition, 2 speed boats, 2 outboard engine, 8 vehicles and 4 motorcycles .

He said that all the recovered items and apprehended suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action.

Major General Danmadami also said
troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN and WHIRL STROKE in the North Central zone have sustained the offensive against terrorists and other criminal elements in their general areas of operation.

“Operational activities were conducted at different locations and in villages within Bassa and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State. Operational were also conducted at Guma and Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas of Benue State.

According to him, on 26 February 2023, following credible information, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN arrested 5 suspected cattle rustlers and recovered 35 rustled cattle at Lobirin village in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

On the same day, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE conducted a raid operation to Utange village in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State. During the operation, troops neutralized 2 bandits and recovered 1 AK47 rifle, 8 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 1 mobile phone among other sundry items.

In the same vein, troops conducted fighting to within Zaki-Biam town in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State and arrested 7 terrorist. Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects have been involved in criminal activities within the Local Government Area.

“Troops also recovered 1 AK47 rifle, 19 locally made pistol, 1 dane gun, 2 machetes and 4 mobile phones from the terrorist.

He said that troops on patrol at Okehi town in Okenne Local Government Area of Kogi State on 25 February 2023 arrested 8 political thugs in an attempt to disrupt the electoral process. Troops recovered 3 pump action guns, 2 locally fabricated AK 47 rifles, 6 locally made assorted guns and 2 daggers.

While on 4 March 2023, troops responded to an attack on Angwan Lilu in Royom Local Government Area of Plateau State and made contact with the criminals and following a fire fight, the criminals fled.

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Troops recovered 1 AK47 rifle, 2 dane guns, 17 empty cases of 7.62mm ammunition, 155 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 3 machetes, 2 mobile phones and 2 motorcycles.

“Accordingly, within the weeks in focus, troops in the North Central Zone recovered 5 AK47 rifles, 3 pump action guns, 19 locally fabricated pistol, 3 dane gun, 6 locally made assorted rifles, 163 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 17 empty cases of 7.62mm ammunition, 2 machetes, 2 wrist watches, 7 mobile phones and 35 rustled cattle.

Troops also neutralized 2 terrorists and arrested 7 suspected terrorist as well as 8 political thugs. All recovered items, arrested terrorists have been handed over to relevant authority for further action.