The Military High Command, on Friday, said that its troops and other security forces operating in the various theatres of operations across the six geo-political zones of the country neutralised 253 terrorists and arrested 172 other criminal elements in the last one week in the renewed efforts to end insurgency activities in the country.
This was contained in a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja by the Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba on the ongoing military Operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) as of Friday, May this year.
He added the gallant troops also rescued 206 kidnapped hostages during the period and recovered assorted weapons from the criminals.
According to him, “In the South-South, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of N1,073,829,500.00 only”.
The Director pointed out that the armed forces remained steadfast in its role as an element of national power utilised to protect and project the national interest of the nation, saying that the ongoing operations across the country were in support of national security interest.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 251 assorted weapons and 4,113 assorted ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: one GPMG, 118 AK47 rifles, 54 locally fabricated guns, 47 Dane guns, 6 pump action guns, 2 locally fabricated pump action guns, 5 double barrel guns, 4 single barrel guns, 4 locally fabricated pistols, 4 IED, 60mm mortar tube, 2 AK butts, MRAP and one bandolier.
“Others are 2,047 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 942 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 98 rounds of 9mm ammo, 342 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 334 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 252 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm, 110 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ball, 299 live cartridges, 32 magazines, 2 baofeng radios, 2 KYD radios, 8 vehicles, 41 motorcycles, 27 bicycles, 41 mobile phones and the sum of N74,702,320.00 only amongst other items.”
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He added that the troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 22 dugout pits, 37 boats, 70 drums, 4 receivers, 4 reservoirs and 29 storage tanks.
According to him, “other items recovered include 215 cooking ovens, 13 vehicles, 4 wheelbarrows, one tricycle, one motorcycle, 5 mobile phones, one speedboat, 2 KYD radios, 2 outboard engines, and 75 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 1,047,050 litres of stolen crude oil and 205,550 litres of illegally refined AGO.
He explained that the operations across the country were a testament to the tireless effort of the military to prevent anarchy, unrest, and national security destabilization, saying, “for these reasons, the armed forces are deserving of the pride of place as the nation’s symbol of national unity and resilience.”
The Director declared that based on the foregoing, “it is instructive for citizens to extend utmost respect for their armed forces, rather than degraded the institution” saying that; “it would be counterproductive and amounts to self-sabotage otherwise”.
Tribune
