The Nigerian military has intensified its operations across various theatres, resulting in the neutralization of 148 terrorists and the arrest of 258 suspects over the past week.
Among those arrested were two ammunition couriers identified as Danweri and Abubakar Hamza, apprehended in Bauchi State’s Alkaleri Local Government Area.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, highlighting the successes achieved in the ongoing operations.
“During the week, troops in the North Central theatre of operation intercepted and apprehended two ammunition couriers who were collaborating with the terrorists. The arrested persons, identified as Danweri and Abubakar Hamza, were apprehended in Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi State and are cooperating with troops,” Buba stated.
He further revealed that 291 kidnapped hostages were rescued during the operations.
In the Niger Delta, the military also recorded significant gains in the fight against oil theft. According to Buba, 51 suspected oil thieves were arrested, and crude oil worth N798 million was recovered.
“Troops also arrested 51 perpetrators of oil theft, and in the South-South, troops thwarted oil theft valued at N798,146,470.00. Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 68 crude oil cooking ovens, 13 dugout pits, 41 boats, 45 storage tanks, and 66 illegal refining sites,” Buba said.
Recovered items in the Niger Delta included four speedboats, one pumping machine, 150 drums, one generator, two motorcycles, two mobile phones, one drone, and five vehicles. Additionally, troops confiscated 657,470 litres of stolen crude oil, 127,870 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 5,000 litres of DPK.
The military also reported the recovery of 146 assorted weapons and 2,599 rounds of ammunition.
“The breakdown is as follows: two PKT guns, 72 AK-47 rifles, 33 fabricated rifles, 28 Dane guns, two locally made SMGs, three locally made pistols, two pump-action guns, one RPG bomb, one RPG tube, and 39 magazines.
“Other items include 1,596 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 636 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 111 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammo, 114 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 25 rounds of 9mm ammo, 98 live cartridges, three Baofeng radios, three vehicles, 36 motorcycles, 40 mobile phones, and the sum of N1,838,000.00, among other items,” he added.
