The Defense Headquarters (DHQ) says that troops from the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, have destroyed 39 illegal oil refining sites in the south-south zone in the last two weeks.
Defense Media Operations Director Musa Danmadami made this known at a biweekly press briefing on military operations on Thursday in Abuja.
Danmadami, a major general, said troops carrying out Operation Octopus Grip and other operations destroyed 48 cooking ovens, 103 storage tanks, 27 pits and 33 wooden boats during the period.
He said the troops also recovered a tugboat, a barge, three pumping machines, three-speed boats and 13 vehicles.
According to him, the troops recovered 274,000 liters of crude oil, 71,000 liters of Automotive Gas Oil and 15 Ak47 rifles, while 40 alleged economic saboteurs were arrested.
“All recovered items and detained suspects have been turned over to the proper authority for further action.
“Similarly, the airborne component of Operation Delta Safe conducted aerial interdiction at several illegal refining sites and streams in the Gogokiri Degema and Okrika local government areas, both in Rivers State, between January 12 and 24. .
“The crew observed that the sites were active makeshift tents and illegal refining activities took place.
“Targets clashed with guns and the locations were observed to explode into hell while illegal refining equipment was also destroyed,” he said.
ALSO READ: Nigerian Military Disables More Than 70 Illegal Refineries In Two Weeks
In the southeast, the defense spokesman said the armed forces and other security agencies had sustained the crackdown on the activities of proscribed criminals from the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra/Eastern Security Network in the area.
He said the troops neutralized six terrorists, arrested 24 and rescued 16 kidnapped civilians.
According to him, various calibers of weapons and ammunition were also recovered, including locally made AK47 rifles, pump-action rifles, IEDs and explosive tubes, among other items.
(YAYA)
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