Abuja: Troops of Operation Delta Safe have destroyed 53 illegal refining sites and arrested 81 suspected oil thieves and other criminals in sustained operations across the Niger Delta region in January. The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this information on Friday in Abuja during a briefing with newsmen on the military’s operations in January.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Onoja detailed that the troops responded to multiple distress calls related to sea piracy, illegal refining, and other criminal activities throughout the month. In the process, they recovered assorted arms and ammunition while dismantling several illicit refining camps across the region. Additional offensive operations in Akwa Ibom’s Ini and Essien Udim Local Government Areas, as well as Delta’s Okpe Local Government Area, resulted in the arrest of five more suspects and the recovery of weapons.
Maj.-Gen. Onoja emphasized that efforts to curb crude oil theft included armed reconnaissance missions by the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe over Bakana and Abuloma towns. During these missions, a large barge siphoning petroleum products was observed and subsequently engaged.
During the operational period, over 80 militants surrendered to troops, and eight Cameroonian nationals were rescued during cross-border patrols along the Bakassi waterways. In the South-East region, Operation UDO KA troops continued operations against terrorists, militants, and other criminal elements across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States. These operations resulted in the neutralization of some terrorists, the apprehension of 22 suspects, and the rescue of 11 kidnapped victims, along with the recovery of arms and ammunition.
Security assessments suggest a significant reduction in crime rates across the South-East compared to previous months, indicating the effectiveness of sustained military pressure and non-kinetic engagements.