Troops intercepted N3.7bn stolen crude oil, says DHQ

The Defence Headquarters, on Thursday, said a combined troops of Operations Delta Safe, Octopus Grip and Dakar Da Barawo, intercepted petroleum products worth N3, 708,259,338.00 from suspected oil thieves in the Niger Delta within two weeks.

The military high command also said troops of the Nigerian Army’s Guards Brigade raided suspected terrorists’ hideouts at Deidei Abattoir in the Abuja Municipal Area Council and in Gwagwalada Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, disclosed these while briefing journalists on the activities of the troops between August 11 and 25.

Giving a breakdown of the volume of petroleum products recovered from the suspects, he said, “25,977.15 barrel of crude oil; 3,236,130 litres of Automotive Gas Oil; 26,575 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, and 2,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene were recovered. Also, troops arrested 21 pipeline vandals.

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“Also, troops recovered four tankers, two speed boats, one generator, one outboard engine, 14 pumping machine and three AK47 rifles.”

Danmadami noted that during the operations, troops also discovered and destroyed several illegal refining sites.

He added that eight suspected terrorists were arrested, and also eight guns and other items were recovered during the operation by the Guards Brigade.

The statement added, “On August 13, 2022, troops of Guards Brigade raided some suspected terrorists’ hideouts at Deidei Abattoir in Abuja Municipal Area Council and Dupka village in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

“During the raid operation, eight suspected terrorists were arrested; five AK47 rifles and the pump action guns were recovered, while large quantities of items suspected to be cannabis sativa, three machetes, knives among other items were also recovered.”

He added that troops killed several terrorists, including  a high profile commander of ISWAP identified  as Uzaifa, who was the ‘Minzir ’ and a bandit leader, Aminu Duniya.