The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Friday says troops deployed to different theatres of operations neutralised 108 and arrested 172 terrorists and other criminal elements.
The military high command also said troops arrested 32 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 214 kidnapped hostages.
Director Defence Media Operations Major GeneralEdward Buba who disclosed this in a statement noted that in the South South, troops denied the oil thieves crude estimated to worth the sum of One Billion Three Hundred and Forty Six Million Three Hundred and Eighty Two Thousand Nine Hundred Naira (N1,346,382,900.00) only.
He disclosed that troops recovered 66 assorted weapons and 4,087 assorted ammunition.
According to him, the breakdown are as follows: “One dushka, one MG, 2 GPMGs, one RPG launcher, one RPG bomb, one AK56 rifle, 37 AK47 rifles, 4 MRAPs, 2 GTs, 3 fabricated rifles, 6 dane guns, 3 locally made pistols, 6 magazines, one bandolier and 2 HH radios.
“Others are 313 rounds of 7.62mm PKT, 2,362 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 699 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 201 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 503 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 9 live cartridges, one belted of NATO ammo, 19 vehicles, 44 motorcycles, 3 mobile phones and the sum of N4,986,000.00 only amongst other items.”
General Buba said troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 487 dugout pits, 32 boats and 12 storage tanks.
“Other items recovered include 71 cooking ovens, 2 speedboats, 2 pumping machines, 2 HH radios, 19 vehicles, 32 motorcycles, one tricycle, one wheelbarrow and 76 illegal refining sites.
“Troops recovered 1,133,800 litres of stolen crude oil, 228,770 litres of illegally refined AGO, 100 litres of DPK and 20,000 litres of PMS,” he said.
The defence spokesperson said the military would not allow enemies of democracy to derail the democratic process in the country in the guise of protests.
He re
“The armed forces is ready as a formidable force for the emerging threats confronting the nation, particularly occassioned by the prevailing issues of protest in the country that took a violent and subversive dimension.
“ Indeed, as part of our constitutional responsibilities, we will not relent in tackling these threats to ensure the stability of our nation.
“ Importantly, the military stands firm and resolute to preserving the nation’s hard earned democracy and oppose any form of unconstitutional change of government. Indeed, we will work assiduously to provide the enabling environments to support government in the attainment of objectives in addressing the issues of poverty and hardship in the country.”
