WorldStage Newsonline– The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has said its rejigging it ongoing operations in the Niger Delta Region to combat crude oil theft.
Speaking at the weekly update of military operations in the country, Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen. Edward Buba highlighted redesigning of operations strategy to curb the menace of crude oil theft through a comprehensive approach,which will be conducted through a unified command structure for all security agencies in the region.
Buba said additional operations would target specific areas that have significant capability to boost crude oil production.
Gen. Buba said troops operating in the South-south region in the week under review denied oil theft estimated sum of Seven Hundred and Forty Four Million One Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand Nine Hundred Naira (N744,153,900.00) only.
The troops also neutralised 125 and arrested 200 persons and arrested 20 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 140 kidnapped hostages.
Furthermore, troops recovered 120 assorted weapons and 1,793 assorted ammunition.
He gave the breakdown as: 56 AK47 rifles, 26 locally fabricated gun, 22 dane guns, one SMG rifle, 7 pump action guns, one fabricated barretta pistol, 7 locally made guns, 5 x 60mm mortar bomb Unexploded Ordinances and 2 small rubber gun powder.
Others are: 1,244 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 383 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 88 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 78 live cartridges, 24 empty case of 7.62mm ammo, 21 AK47 magazines, one baofeng radio, 6 vehicles, 11 motorcycles, 5 bicycles, 38 mobile phones and the sum of N2,737,145.00 only amongst other items.
Gen. Buba said, Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and discovered and destroyed 11 dugout pits, 5 boats and 20 storage tanks.
According to him, other items recovered include 31 cooking ovens, 5 vehicles, 3 mobile phones and 31 illegal refining sites.
He said, the Troops also recovered 715,325 litres of stolen crude oil and 148,415 litres of illegally refined AGO.
According to him, the targeted areas includes, but are not limited to enforcing and ensuring transparency by International Oil Companies operating in the region.
He said, “Others are; ensuring the integrity of the metering systems deployed at flow stations. Operations will also embark on the tracking of point of loading to destination point of the crude oil. Furthermore, operations will also concentrate on surveillance of the pipelines, jackets and well head to forestall breaches.
“Overall, operations will galvanise the support of the people of the Niger Delta as well as the stakeholders in the oil sector to support the drive to boost the nations oil production.
He said, “On the whole, the military is in a good and strong position in the war against terrorist with many terrorist leaders killed. Our operation continues to focus at providing security and stability for the nation and citizens.”
