Khadijat Yusuf
Abuja
The Armed Forces of Nigeria says the recently rejiged war against crude oil theft operations in the Niger Delta has began to yield noticeable increase in the nations's crude oil production.
The Director Defence Media Operations, Major-General Edward Buba in a press statement said "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."
"Meanwhile, ongoing operations across the country remains focussed on defeating and killing the enemy wherever they are hiding. Indeed, we are in a better place today, than at any previous time."
Maj.Gen Buba said during the week under review, troops neutralised 147 and arrested 381 persons. Troops also arrested 23 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 113 kidnapped hostages. In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Nine Hundred and Forty Three Million One Hundred and Sixty One Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty Naira (N943,161,680.00) only.
Furthermore, troops recovered 74 assorted weapons and 3,498 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: one dushka, one RPG bomb, one RPG charger, 42 AK47 rifles, 10 fabricated rifles, 13 dane guns, one FN rifle, one revolver pistol, one locally made pistol, 27 magazines, one AK47 dummy rifle, one AK47 top cover and one baofeng radio.
Others are: 288 rounds RG55 ammo, 40 rounds CJ95 ammo, 2,466 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 470 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 73 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 112 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 42 live cartridges, 6 vehicles, 32 motorcycles and 8 mobile phones amongst other items.
He said Troops in the Niger Delta area also discovered and destroyed 15 dugout pits, 17 boats, 62 drums, one receiver and 27 storage tanks. Other items recovered include 32 cooking ovens, 2 outboard engines, 2 pumping machines, 2 vehicles, one tricycle, 3 motorcycles and 84 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 920,800 litres of stolen crude oil, 88,760 litres of illegally refined AGO and 7,500 litres of PMS.
"Overall, we are constantly assessing our actions, adjusting and amending our operations in order annihilate terrorist across. Accordingly, troops are working decisively to kill the terrorist , stop the insecurity and ensure the safety of citizens across the country," he said.
General Buba however urge citizens to note that, winning the war depends not only on the military, weapons and finances, but also largely depends on the people.
He said "Together we can make an extra ordinary difference in wiping out insecurity in our nation."
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