Not less than 13 commanders of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and Eastern Security Network, ESN, have been eliminated by Nigerian joint military operatives due to their “criminal” actions in the South East region.
At a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, the Director of Defence Media Operations, revealed this information to the media.
Danmadami said that because the illegal organisations were making life in the zone intolerable for locals, the military, along with other security authorities, had kept a lid on their operations.
He said; “Within the week in focus, troops neutralised 13 IPOB/ESN criminals, arrested six including their herbalist.
“Troops equally recovered eight AK47 rifles, seven pump action guns, three locally made pistols, one sniper rifle, 15 rounds of 7.62mm special, 13 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, eight rounds of 9mm ammunition and five cartridges.
“Other items recovered are three pairs of combat boots, two pairs of camouflage uniforms and two camouflage jungle hats.
“Also recovered are two CCTV cameras, one INEC image capturing machine, one INEC box, two walkie-talkies, transistor radio, three solar panels, motorcycles, vehicles among other items.
“All apprehended criminals and recovered items were handed over to the appropriate authority for further action.”
The military officer went on to say that Operation Delta Safe forces had demolished 44 illicit refinery plants in the Niger Delta due to ongoing oil theft in the area.
He added that throughout land, sea, and aerial operations at creeks, villages, communities, waterways, cities, and towns in the Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers States, troops also detained 29 suspected oil thieves.
He claims that throughout the course of Operation “Octopus Grip,” 32 wooden boats, 73 storage tanks, 129 cooking furnaces, and 40 dugout trenches were found and destroyed. He stated that in addition, forces found 40 vehicles, three motorbikes, three generators, and five pumping devices, as well as 512,000 gallons of stolen crude oil, 114,500 liters of illegally refined AGO, 1,000 liters of PMS, and 40.
“Troops also arrested 29 criminal elements and recovered 104 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition. Notably, on Nov. 7, it conducted air interdiction at Abacheke, an identified illegal refining site where significant human activities were confirmed.
“Consequently, the target was engaged and destroyed while an air strike led to an inferno that lasted for almost 24 hours,” he said.