DHQ Assures Continued Onslaught On Bandits

By Ayodele Oni

As Muslims look out for new moon to commence 30 days Ramadan fasting, the Defence Headquarters, (DHQ) has assured that troops are ready as a formidable force to tackle any form of banditry during the period.

The DHQ on Friday reiterated that the military will continue to defeat the terrorist and their cohorts in the battlefield and dislodge them from the safe have across the country.

Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba disclosed this in a press statement noting that “the armed forces is a force of stability seeking to bring stability wherever it may be needed across the country.

“Accordingly, we are committed and remain strong to our mission of defending the country and protecting the citizens.”

General Buba revealed that during the week under review, troops neutralized 210 and arrested 142 of them.

“Troops also arrested 66 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 46 kidnapped hostages. The troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Two Billion Two Hundred and Seventy Five Million Four Hundred and Fifty One Thousand and Six Hundred Naira (N2,275,451,600.00) only.

“Furthermore, troops recovered 243 assorted weapons and 5,453 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: 2 GPMGs, 3 G3 rifles, 115 AK47 rifles, 42 locally fabricated guns, 16 pump action guns, 12 locally fabricated pistols, 34 dane guns, 2 pistols, 3 fabricated revolver gun, 3 automatic single barrel guns, 2 double barrel guns, 2 locally made short guns, 4 hand grenades.

“Other are: 2,699 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,558 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 339 rounds of 9mm ammo, 22 rounds of 5.64mm ammo, 121 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 468 live cartridges, 34 magazines, 5 HH boafeng radios, 18 vehicle, 26 motorcycles and 34 mobile phones amongst other items.

“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 63 dugout pits, 46 boats and 120 storage tanks. Other items recovered include 100 cooking ovens, 3 outboard engine, 11 pumping machines, 23 vehicles, 2 tricycles, 6 mobile phones,one generator and 81 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 1,932,245 litres of stolen crude oil, 432,150 litres of illegally refined AGO and 3,500 litres of DPK.”