The Nigerian Defence Headquarters reported on Thursday that their troops have successfully intercepted stolen crude oil worth an estimated N1.2 billion, coinciding with a boost in the nation’s oil production capacity throughout the month of September.
Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed this information during a press briefing held in Abuja, where he outlined the military’s recent accomplishments and ongoing efforts.
Buba, speaking on behalf of the Defence Headquarters, expressed a firm commitment to thwarting the activities of terrorists aiming to carry out small-scale attacks on soft targets. In an impressive display of military prowess, he announced that within the span of just one week, the troops had eliminated 73 terrorists, apprehended 182 suspects, and successfully rescued 68 hostages.
Buba emphasized, “The ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations have effectively disrupted the strategic objectives of these malevolent elements. The military remains resolute in degrading their capacity to execute small-scale attacks intended to sow panic within our communities.”
Further elaborating on the achievements of the Nigerian troops, the director revealed that they had identified and dismantled a total of 63 illegal refining sites, each housing 15 dugout pits. Additionally, they seized 45 boats, 87 storage tanks, 128 cooking ovens, one pumping machine, and four outboard engines, resulting in the arrest of 14 suspected oil thieves.
The remarkable operation yielded an impressive haul of confiscated resources, including 962,500 liters of stolen crude oil, 35,420 liters of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 38,450 liters of Dual-Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and 45,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). These confiscated quantities were estimated to hold a total value of N1,212,046,140.
