Defense Headquarters said Operation Delta Safe troops seized boats, recovered stolen petroleum products and destroyed illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta region.
The Acting Director, Defense Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, revealed it while taking stock of military operations across the country Thursday in Abuja.
Onyeuko said recoveries were made at Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta.
He said troops discovered and immobilized illegal refining sites with 24 furnaces and 37 storage tanks loaded with 120,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) illegally refined gasoline during the period.
He added that 80,000 liters of illegally refined automotive diesel (AGO) and 1,100 barrels of stolen crude oil were also recovered.
According to him, the troops also arrested a large wooden boat loaded with 22,000 liters of dual-use kerosene (DPK), five 45 hp boat engines and two pumping machines.
He said the troops were conducting intensive land, sea and air patrols to ensure the security of critical maritime infrastructure in their area of responsibility.
Onyeuko said that in the northwest, Operation AWATSE troops arrested three oil thieves with eight vehicles on July 20 containing more than 56 jerry cans of stolen PMS and other petroleum products in Ogun.
He said that on Saturday and Sunday, troops arrested three vandals in the communities of Arepo and Majidun in Lagos, including their spy, Mr. Bamidele in Ikotun.
In the southeast, the spokesperson said troops continued to loot camps and hideouts of outlawed indigenous peoples of Biafra / Eastern Security Network (IPOB / ESN) in the area.
He said they continued to maintain vigilance and dominate the area with patrols to deter criminal activity.
Onyeuko said that the Chief of the Defense Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, had continued consultations with retired senior officers in the various geopolitical areas on security challenges in their local communities.
He explained that the consultation was part of the non-kinetic approach to addressing security challenges through “unrestrained interaction with retired senior officers”.
According to him, the CDS has so far held consultations with retired senior officers in the geopolitical areas of the Southwest, Northwest and Southeast.
“The military high command salutes the enormous sacrifices of our troops in the various theaters of operations across the country.
“The general public and the media are greatly appreciated and also encouraged to continue to support our efforts by providing credible and timely information which will facilitate our proactive engagements,” he said. (NAN)
