Defence Headquarters Says Armed Forces Record Major Victories In Operations, Thwarting Criminal Activities

Troops have neutralise 159 terrorists, arrested 174 persons, 45 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 188 kidnapped hostages. 

The troops also denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Seven Hundred and Thirty Six Million Nine Hundred and Seventy One Thousand Four Hundred and Fifty Naira (N736,971,450.00) only in the Niger Delta Region.

According to Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, troops recovered 3 PKT guns, one SLR, 92 AK47 rifles, 25 fabricated rifles, 15 dane guns, 4 pump action guns, 4 locally made pistols, one pistol, 2 RPG tubes, one RPG bomb, 66 AK47 magazines, one FN magazine, 2 locally fabricated hand grenades.

Other items recovered are 10,346 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,094 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 92 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 479 rounds of PKT ammo, 182 rounds of MG ammo, 43 rounds of 9.5mm ammo, 12 rounds of 9mm ammo, 35 live cartridges, 35 empty cases of 7.62mm ammo, 2 baofeng radios, 15 vehicles, 39 motorcycles, 28 mobile phones and the sum of N5,386,200.00 only amongst other items.

Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 9 dugout pits, 35 boats, 4 speedboats, 32 drums and 57 storage tanks. Other items recovered include 20 cooking ovens, one pumping machine, 14 vehicles, one motorcycles, one tricycle, 10 mobile phones and 71 illegal refining sites.

The troops recovered 788,400 litres of stolen crude oil, 28,995 litres of illegally refined AGO, 300 litres of DPK and 3,000 litres of PMS. 

The armed forces said it is taking resolute steps in ending terrorism and insecurity in the country, through all it's operations which are yielding desired results as troops continue to dismantle terrorist network, decimate their leadership and combatants. 

Defence Headquarters also said troops are strategically deployed to ensure that the off-cycle Govenorship election scheduled for 21 Sep 24 in Edo State is violence free, fair and credible. Their role is to support the police to ensure voters safety and security. Accordingly, troops presence is to thwart the activities of those elements bent on formenting crisis during the elections.