…DENIES OIL THIEVES OF ESTIMATED N688.13 MILLION
The Military High Command has revealed that one of the notorious terrorist commanders in Jigawa State known as Mai Hijabi, was eliminated from the battlefield during the week, while in the South-South, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Six Hundred and Eighty-Eight Million One Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand One Hundred and Fifty Naira (N688,125,150.00) only.
Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, disclosed this today while briefing journalists at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, on the ongoing military operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
According to General Buba, “The Armed Forces has strategically deployed troops across the country to combat the terrorist, insurgents and their cohorts. The war effort of the military is designed and crafted to defeat and destroy these terrorists as well as dismantle their terror networks across the country.
“Accordingly, the Armed Forces has intensified its war efforts, through mobilization of lethal forces and air strikes on terrorists. Troops also understand the importance of momentum and are therefore taking the fight to the terrorists.
“Our operations have destroyed a substantial part of the combat capacity of these terror groups and their leadership. For instance, one of the notorious terrorist commanders in Jigawa State known as Mai Hijabi, was eliminated from the battlefield during the week.
“Troops are therefore increasingly making significant strides across all theatres of operations,” he said.
Revealing some of the successes recorded during the week under review, General Buba said, “Troops neutralised 165 and arrested 238 persons. Troops also arrested 35 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 188 kidnapped hostages.
“In the South-South, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Six Hundred and Eighty-Eight Million One Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand One Hundred and Fifty Naira (N688,125,150.00) only.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 153 assorted weapons and 2,182 assorted ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: 81 AK47 rifles, 23 fabricated rifles, 27 dane guns, 13 pump action guns, 5 locally made pistols, 3 revolver pistols, 30 AK47 magazines and one bayonet.
“Others are 1,561 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 278 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 70 rounds of 50mm ammo, 72 rounds of 9mm ammo, 87 live cartridges, one baofeng radio, 19 vehicles, 21 motorcycles, 45 mobile phones and the sum of N64,100.00 only amongst other items.
“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 2 dugout pits, 58 boats and 39 storage tanks. Other items recovered include 13 cooking ovens, 35 drums, one motorcycle, one tricycle, 4 Speed Boat, 13 vehicles and 65 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 789,200 litres of stolen crude oil and 64,950 litres of illegally refined AGO.”
He further reiterated that the military role in the ongoing war is clear and they are winning the war. The military is not oblivious of some security challenges faced by citizens in certain quaters and are reassessing operation in those areas to better secure and protect citizens.
The Armed Forces seize this opportunity to caution persons or groups, from making threats or inflammatory comments on untoward activities against troops’ presence or deployment as a result of ongoing operations. The outcome of such an act is better imagined than experienced.
“Troops recognizes the urgency for to ensure peace and security for all citizens across the country. Accordingly, working on new strategies to better protect the nation and citizens.”
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