By Harriet Tornguvan -Abuja
The Nigerian military has reinforced its operations against crude oil theft and other criminal activities, resulting in significant successes during the review period.
The Defence Headquarters reported on Thursday that troops uncovered and dismantled 21 illegal refining sites and apprehended 23 individuals involved in oil theft.
Additionally, 75 individuals, including seven adult males, 34 adult females, and 34 children, were handed over to Borno State Government representatives in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.
These were said during a biweekly media briefing at the Defence Headquarters, Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, highlighted the military's achievements in curbing oil theft, estimating losses averted at approximately N461,783,868.
Maj.General Kangye revealed that 247,629 litres of stolen crude oil and 198,374 litres of illegally refined AGO. He added that, troops discovered and destroyed 36 crude oil cooking ovens, 42 dugout pits.
Other items recovered include pumping machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones and some vehicles amongst others. In a related development, troops recovered huge cache of assorted arms and ammunition during the week.
Maj. Gen Kangye on other operations across various theatres, said several terrorists were neutralized. Their collaborators were also apprehended, while some kidnapped victims were rescued. The week also witnessed the handover of 75 persons comprising 7 adult males, 34 adult females and 34 children to the representatives of Borno State Government in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Counci
Between 10 - 19 March 2025, scores of terrorists comprising adult males, adult females and some children surrendered to troops within the theatre of operation following the ongoing onslaught by our gallant troops.
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai conducted operations in Damboa, Ngazai, Monguno, Abadam and Guzamala LGAs of Borno State as well as Gujba LGA of Yobe State respectively.
During the operations, some terrorists were neutralized, others were apprehended, while some kidnapped hostages were rescued. They also recovered Ak47 rifles, locally fabricated rifles, as well as assorted rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition. Also recovered were AK47 magazines, IEDs, several unexploded ordnance devices as well as 2 vehicles and terrorists' motorcycles.
From 11 - 16 March 2025, troops intercepted and arrested 14 terrorist collaborators in Dikwa, Damboa, Gubio LGAs of Borno State as well as Gujba LGA of Yobe State. During the operations, some customized IED terrorists were neutralized including a senior terrorists fighter identified as Babangida in Kinpin Dan Sa'adi enclave in Kaura Namoda and arrested others.
Troops of Operation FASAN YAMMA also recovered some AK47 rifles, locally fabricated guns, and cache of assorted 7.62mm ammunition, as well as motorcycles and mobile phones from them. From 12 - 16 March 2025, troops responded to information about terrorists' activities in Shanga and Bukkuyum LGAs of Zamfara State as well as Faskari, Danmusa and Sabuwa LGAs of Katsina and Kebbi States respectively. Similar operations were also conducted in Tangaza and Gudu LGAs of Sokoto State. During the encounters, scores of terrorists were
And anti-criminality operations responded to information about violent extremists' activities in Abuja Municipa Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory and Esan North East LGA of Edo State. During the operations, 3 kidnappers were arrested while 2 hostages were rescued. One locally fabricated rifle, some live cartridges and the sum of N17,900.00 were recovered.
He pledged that the gallant men and women of the AFN will continue to carry out their constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives and properties of all Nigerians in line with our constitutional roles, Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct for Internal Security Operations.
