By AGATHA NWOKOCHA, Abuja
As part of troops’ onslaught against the nation’s economic sabotage, terrorists and criminal elements across the country, the Nigerian Military on Thursday informed of a significant success it recorded in increasing Nigeria’s oil production as its men fighting in Niger Delta region averted oil theft.
The troops’ onslaught is aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s economic infrastructure, and ending oil theft and violent extremism in the region.
“The recently rejigged war against crude oil theft operations in the Niger Delta has began to yield noticeable increase in the nations’s crude oil production”, Spokesman of Nigerian Defence Headquarters, General Edward Buba declared.
Speaking on Thursday at a news briefing in Abuja, Buba, who is the Director of Defence Media Operations, DMO, disclosed that Nigeria’s oil production has witnessed significant increase within the past two weeks, adding that the mandate of President Bola Tinubu to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, recently, is being carried out which has resulted in increase in crude oil production.
Buba in the same breath informed that troops have seized a staggering 920,800 liters of stolen crude oil, 88,760 liters of illicitly refined AGO, and 7,500 liters of PMS.
He said, “In a series of successful raids, the military dismantled and destroyed 15 dugout pits, 17 boats, 62 drums, one receiver, and 27 storage tanks. They also seized 32 cooking ovens, 2 outboard engines, 2 pumping machines, 2 vehicles, one tricycle, and 3 motorcycles, while shutting down 84 illegal refining sites.”
Buba highlighted a successful raid on a violent extremist hideout in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, where troops neutralized one extremist, arrested another, and confiscated an array of weapons including an AK47 rifle and 44 rounds of ammunition.
The director who shared the information on the ongoing military operations across the nation, during the bi-weekly press conference, added that arrests in Delta and Bayelsa States led to the capture of 2 suspected extremists, including a notorious kidnap kingpin.
“In the southeast, Operation Udo Ka led to the neutralization of 9 terrorists and the arrest of 8 extremists. Troops recovered significant arms and equipment, including a pump-action gun and IED accessories. In the southwest, Operation Awatse resulted in the arrest of 5 extremists and the seizure of 4 AK47 rifles, a locally fabricated pistol, and 110 rounds of ammunition.”
Buba said all seized items, suspects, and rescued hostages have been handed over to relevant authorities for further action.
“Though we are not yet at where we want to be in terms of daily crude oil production, troops will sustenance the renewed vigor and momentum till crude oil production target is achieved and exceeded”, Buba assured.
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