Military prevented Nigeria from losing N4b due to oil theft – DHQ

The military high command said on Thursday that its efforts in the Niger Delta region have stopped oil thieves from stealing crude oil worth an estimated N4 billion from the nation.

According to the command, during the time under review, oil thieves lost almost 6.6 million liters of stolen crude oil, 3.5 million liters of AGO, 200,000 liters of DPK, and over 65,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirits.

During the quarterly briefing on the military’s activities across the nation between June and August 2023, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media activities, revealed this in Abuja.

“Troops operations in the South-South geopolitical zone resulted in the arrest of 6,652,250 liters of stolen crude oil, 3,558,325 liters of illegally refined AGO, 288,650 liters of DPK, and 65,600 kilograms of PMS,” he stated. All told, the oil thieves were denied access to an estimated N4 billion. so protecting the country from losing this cash to economic saboteurs.

Additionally, according to Buba, throughout various operations across the nation, troops detained 2,328 offenders while also killing 814 terrorists in the North East.

According to Buba, from June to August 2023, operations conducted across the six geopolitical zones showed that 814 terrorists had been neutralized and 1,326 offenders had been taken into custody. 42 kidnappers, 231 accomplices, 33 armed robbers, 80 livestock rustlers, 325 militia members, 27 rail vandals, 73 gunrunners, 191 suspected oil thieves, and 721 kidnapped hostages were detained by us. In addition, 4,560 terrorists and their families turned themselves in to the military.

According to Buba, among other things, criminal elements left with 3,269 different types of ammunition and 674 other pieces of equipment.

“Troops recovered a total of 674 other pieces of equipment, 3,577 animals, 3,269 different types of ammunition, and 501 weapons,” he stated. These weapons and ammunition are broken down as follows: 117 AK47 rifles, 1 AK49 rifle, 5 revolvers, 28 fabricated rifles, 11 fabricated pistols, 57 Dane guns, 23 pistols, 24 pump action guns, 3 FN rifles, 3 GPMGs, 1 double barrel gun, 1 barreta pistol, 1 G3 rifle, 2 HK21 rifles, 1 IED, 123 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 2,008 rounds of 7.62mm Special, 30 rounds each of 7.62mm x 39mm and 7.62mm x 54mm, 190 rounds each of 5.5mm and 5.5mm x 54mm, 39 rounds each of 9mm and PKM, and 19 rounds total.

The following items were equally recovered by the troops: one RPG tube, three hand grenades, one locally made hand grenade, one locally made bomb, two rifle butts, one AK47 barrel, one GMPG barrel, two MG links, 98 AK47 magazines, two G3 magazines, two FN magazines, two PKT magazines, two LMG magazines, two tear gas launchers, one bulletproof vest, 49 vehicles, 213 motorcycles, 48 bicycles, 69 mobile phones