DHQ Records Achievements In South South, Destroy 75 Illegal Mining Sites

The Military High Command has recorded significant achievements in its ongoing operations in the South-South region, aimed at curbing illegal activities and ensuring national security.

This is contained in a statement by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, in Abuja.

According to the statement, the military made substantial strides in disrupting oil theft and refining operations, alongside other nationwide security efforts.

It notes that troops of Operation Delta Safe in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 75 illegal refining sites, 22 dugout pits, 37 boats, 70 drums, 4 receivers, 4 reservoirs, and 29 storage tanks used for illicit activities.

The statement adds that the operations also led to the recovery of 1,047,050 litres of stolen crude oil and 205,550 liters of illegally refined diesel.

Additionally, the military seized 215 cooking ovens, 13 vehicles, one speedboat, 2 outboard engines, and other equipment used in these illegal enterprises.

The statement explains that these actions in the South-South region are part of broader nationwide efforts that have seen the military neutralize 253 insurgents and arrest 172 individuals involved in various criminal activities in the past week alone.

Among those arrested were 15 suspects implicated in oil theft, while troops successfully rescued 206 kidnapped hostages.

The operations also resulted in the recovery of 251 assorted weapons, including 118 AK-47 rifles, 54 locally fabricated guns, and one general-purpose machine gun (GPMG), along with over 4,000 rounds of various calibers of ammunition.

General Buba, while emphasizing the importance of these successes in maintaining national security and preventing anarchy, highlighted the military’s critical role in protecting national interests and urged the public to support the armed forces.

“The tireless efforts of our troops in the South-South and across the country are crucial in preventing unrest and ensuring national stability. The armed forces deserve utmost respect as a symbol of national unity and resilience,” he stated.

He warned that undermining the military’s efforts would be counterproductive and amount to self-sabotage, and urged citizens to extend their full support to the armed forces.

Aisha Adesanya, Edited By Grace Namiji