AT least 50 terrorists have been killed and another 114 suspected insurgents arrested by troops of the Nigerian Army.
According to the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, told journalists in Abuja on Thursday that additional 19 suspected oil thieves were apprehended, while 49 kidnapping victims were rescued during operations conducted within the week.
“In the South-South region, troops denied oil thefts of the estimated sum of over N968 million. Furthermore, troops recovered 65 assorted weapons and 400 assorted ammunition,” Buba said.
The Director of Defence Media Operations hinted that troops of Operation Delta Safe uncovered and deactivated 53 illegal refining sites, recovered stolen products, pledging that momentum against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region will be sustained.
Major General Buba said troops discovered and destroyed 54 dugout pits, 66 boats, 138 storage tanks, 253 cooking ovens, two pumping machines, eight speedboats, 17 hoses, 18 drums and two cylinders.
Also recovered were 983,350 litres of stolen crude oil, 144,980 litres of illegally refined AGO and 71,650 litres of DPK.
In the South-East, Buba said the troops of operation UDO KA conducted snap operation and arrested suspected IPOB/ESN in the Ikwo and the Okigwe Local Government Areas of Ebonyi and Imo States during the week.
He stated the troops neutralised five terrorists, arrested 12 suspected criminals and rescued seven kidnapped hostages.