By Gbemiga Olamikan.
The Director Media Operation Major General, Edward Buba has disclosed that troops will be deployed to provided assistance to the police in ensuring a hitch free off-cycle governorship election slated for 16 Nov 24, in Ondo State. He said troop’s presence is to ensure security of citizens, enabling them to cast their votes without any form of harassment or intimidation, while keeping mischief makers at bay. Just as NAF is already engaged in flying sensitive electoral material in support of INEC.
Maj General Edward Buba said this in a statement signed on Thursday 14th, November, 2024. Speaking on operations across the country He said, “operations are being modified to box terrorists, by increasing operational intensity to ensure total destruction of all terror groups and dismantling of their terror networks.
However, giving details of activities of troops in the week, Gen. Buba revealed that during the week under review, troops neutralized 88 and arrested 228 persons as 40 perpetrators of oil theft arrested while 181 kidnapped hostages rescued. He revealed that troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of One Billion Two Four Million Four Hundred and Twelve Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifty Naira (N1,021,412,950.00) only in the south-south of Nigeria.
He further disclosed that troops recovered 84 assorted weapons and 2,393 assorted ammunition, giving breakdown of the recovery as follows: 34 AK47 rifles, 15 fabricated rifles, 11 dane guns, 5 fabricated revolver pistol, 8 locally made pistols, 3 pump action guns and one magnum pump action. Others are: 1,807 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 314 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 146 rounds of 7.62mm PKM ammo, 77 rounds of 9mm ammo, 49 live cartridges, 25 magazines, 2 baofeng radios, 16 vehicles, 35 motorcycles, 27 mobile phones and the sum of N1,851,000.00 only amongst other items.
Gen Buba said, troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 13 crude oil cooking ovens, 20 dugout pits, 73 boats, 25 storage tanks and 59 illegal refining sites. While other items recovered include 3 barges, 7 speedboats, 73 drums, one tricycle, 5 pumping machines, 3 mobile phones and 9 vehicles among others. Also, recovered 942,420 litres of stolen crude oil, 175,075 litres of illegally refined AGO and 4,980 litres of PMS.
He therefor assures Nigerians that efforts of terrorist to recruit more members will be worked against by troops, he said “troops have depleted ISWAP terrorist rank and file in the North East, forcing a desperate recruitment drive. Similarly, terrorist in the North West are on a recruitment drive on social media for new recruits. Troops are aware of the situation and working with other security agencies and governments to thwart the plans.”
