Television Nigerian

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

The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Bashir Jamoh, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Koko, and the Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, were called before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on Disposal of Public Property on Thursday. They were asked to explain why the agencies were justified in selling some public properties at auction.

At the panel’s resumed hearing, the summons was issued by Julius Ihonvbere, the committee’s chairman and leader of the House.

The committee is looking into numerous ministries and agencies’ unlawful auctioning of public property.

“NIMASA and NPA seem to have a well-known propensity to not respond to invitations from the parliament,” he said. And this is something we will not stand for.

In the 9th Assembly, “The Nigeria Customs tended not to honor our invitations. However, this Assembly will not permit that. I suggest that the chief of customs get in touch with the committee’s clerk to schedule a time to appear and provide the necessary papers and information.

“The Ministry of Water Resources also does not have a representative present. It is a terrible way to begin for a government that wants to alter the course of events and better the lot of Nigerians. I shall suggest that the permanent secretary speak with the committee’s clerk to set a new time.

Ihonvbere went on to say, “I feel that some of them think what we are doing here is a joke, but by the time they realize it is not a joke, it will be too late.

In order to give the NPA, NIMASA, Customs, and Ministry of Water Resources another chance to testify before this committee, we are delaying taking further action.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation’s presentation, made by Mr. Pascal Nnolie, its liaison officer, and the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority’s, made by MD Engr. Babalola Olatunji, were both previously rejected by the panel.

Ihonvbere rejected NRC’s proposal, stating that the “documents before me are those of 2015 and 2016 previously submitted to the committee on public accounts of the House.”

“With all due respect to your MD, this is a slight to the committee and the parliament. We cannot use any papers from 2016 that you provide. The presentation is being rejected by the committee. Bring them back to your MD, let him respect the committee, and have him present it again in 48 hours.

The chairman advised the MD of the Ogun-Osun River Basin, “Be careful with the kinds of documents you present to the National Assembly, understanding that you’re under oath.

“In the committee’s opinion, your report does not adhere to the format set forth in the letter that was addressed to you. We will withdraw this report, give you time to complete your work thoroughly, and request a new report from you within 48 hours.

However, the committee gave Engr. Mohammed Adara, MD of the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, praise for his speech.

He was instructed to provide the House with the remaining paperwork.