- Neutralises several terrorists, arrests foreigners
A military task force focused on curbing oil theft and securing the Niger Delta region, Operation Delta Safe, has seized stolen petroleum products valued at about N533, 509,520.00, in the past week.
The troops also discovered and destroyed 18 illegal refining sites, 45 cooking ovens, 30 dugout pits, 37 storage tanks, and arrested 51 oil thieves and other criminal elements.
The Director Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Markus Kangye disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
Kangye said troops recovered high-calibre arms and ammunition from criminal elements during several operations in the past week.
“The breakdown of the seizure is 550,350 litres of stolen crude oil, 13,710 litres of illegally refined AGO (Diesel) and 350 litres of DPK (kerosene),” he said.
The defence spokesman said that troops, while conducting an offensive operation on May 15, arrested seven suspected drug peddlers in the Warri Local Government Area of Delta State.
Giving an update on troops’ onslaught against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Kangye said troops destroyed several terrorists’ camps, killed several of them and rescued kidnapped victims and rehabilitated civilians affected by the conflict.
He said scores of terrorists, including adult males, females, and their children, surrendered to troops as operational tempo heightened during the week.
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He said: “Between 15 and 20 May 2025, troops in conjunction with security agencies and Hybrid Forces, conducted offensive operations including fighting patrols, raids and clearance operations in Gwoza, Konduga, Bama, Kukawa, Abadam and Damboa Local Government Areas of Borno State, as well as Madagali and Gujba LGAs of Adamawa and Yobe states respectively. During the operations, some terrorists were neutralised, while 14 kidnapped victims were rescued.
“They also recovered a cache of arms and ammunition as well as mortar bombs, locally made IEDs/IED making materials, extra magazines, hand-held radios and equipment.”
He said troops arrested 13 terrorist logistics suppliers and also recovered IED making materials during their operation in Monguno, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Monguno and Damaturu Local Government Areas of Borno and Yobe State on May 15 and 19.
On troops in the Northwest region, the defence spokesman said troops killed several terrorists and rescued 25 kidnap victims during operations in Zamfara, Sokoto and Kaduna States on May 15.
“Troops further destroyed a terrorist kingpin camp known as Sule Jedi at Marhaba Forest in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State,” he said.
“Similarly, troops acting on a tip-off arrested four terrorist collaborators and neutralised one while attempting to disarm their own personnel in Dan Wasagu and Sule Tankarkar Local Government Area of Kebbi and Jigawa States on May 15 and 19, respectively.”
The defence spokesman said that troops had tightened operations in the North Central region, leading to the neutralisation of several terrorists, arrests and rescue of kidnap victims.
He said: “From 16 to 20 May 2025, troops acting on a tip-off arrested 15 suspected criminals/kidnappers in Bokkos, Jos North, Riyom and Jos South Local Government Areas of Plateau State, as well as Jema’a and Zangon Kataf LGAs of Kaduna State.
“Also, troops arrested three foreign Fulani migrants and two Chadians who claimed to be working with an international company in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. The suspects were handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.”