Troops seize N1.3bn illegal petroleum products, arrest 285 suspects in July – DHQ

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has revealed that troops under Operation Delta Safe intercepted petroleum products valued at ₦1,312,575,085 and arrested 285 suspects in the month of July

In a statement on Friday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, the troops also discovered and dismantled 73 illegal refining sites, 126 crude oil cooking ovens, 39 boats, 83 storage tanks, and 88 drums.

A breakdown of the seized petroleum products includes 974,976 litres of stolen crude oil, 269,257 litres of illegally refined diesel, 1,759 litres of kerosene, and 3,447 litres of petrol. In addition to the arrests, troops also recovered assorted arms, ammunition, and explosives.

Beyond the oil operations, Kangye said troops also neutralized terrorists, arrested 578 suspects involved in kidnapping and arms trafficking, and rescued 134 kidnapped victims across various theatres of operation.

Furthermore, 151 terrorists and their family members surrendered to the military within the period under review.

Prominent terrorist commanders that were neutralized include Yellow Danbokolo, Amir Dunkei, Kachalla Nagomma, Gurmu, and Ali Yar Daribiyar.

The Defence Headquarters also listed the capture of notorious figures such as Yakubu Jubril, Abubakar Yahaya, Haruna Abdullahi, Mohammed Hamisu (aka Mamiyo), and extremist leader Liamdoo Douglas Adekpe (aka Bajor).

Airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) were also executed in Mariga and Rijau councils of Niger State, and along the Zamfara-Kebbi border, leading to the elimination of more terrorist cells