Defence Official: How Military Busted 1,846 Suspects, Hauled Caches Of Arms In N/Delta Since 2016

Acting Director Defence Information, Defence Headquarters Abuja, Brigadier-General John Agim, has given a graphic account of military operations in the Niger Delta region since 2016.

He spoke in Igbogene, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state while addressing newsmen on the activities of Joint Operations Area (JOA) of Operation DELTA SAFE (OPDS) in the Niger Delta region.

According to him, the military within the period had achieved a lot including enhanced safety of lives, rise in crude oil production, recovery of arms and ammunition, seizure and impoundment, destruction of illegal refineries and its ancillaries as well as arrest of several suspects.

He said that Operation DELTA SAFE (OPDS), in the region had recorded successes in area of prosecution of cases, profiling of suspects and persons of interest, and conduct of in-theatre operations.

Brig-Gen Agim disclosed that perpetrators of the criminal acts within the JOA are also being tracked and apprehended for interrogation and possible prosecution.

In a press statement made available to BigPen Online, Agim said that since activation of the operation in 24, June 2016, a total of 1,846 persons involved in diverse acts of criminality have been arrested in the JOA.

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According to him, “A large percentage of these suspects have been transferred to prosecuting agencies accordingly.

“The Force has also made efforts to target the arrest of high profile elements and criminal kingpins, thus reducing the freedom of action they erstwhile exploited.

“Suffice to state that part of the Force’s efforts to deny criminals any freedom of action, involves the destruction of their safe havens and the items used in perpetrating illegalities.

“The Force has in this process destroyed 1,437 illegal refineries, 795 wooden cargo boats (also known as Cotonou boats), 3,872 metal surface tanks and 1,019 plastic tanks.

“Also, 13,129 drums and13,343 Jerry cans have been destroyed.

“It is instructive to add that the introduction of the use of swamp buggy in the JTF’s anti-illegal refining operations has significantly degraded the capacity of illegal refinery operators to revamp destroyed illegal refineries.

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He also said that recovery and mopping up of arms and ammunition are considered essential to the restoration of law and order in the Niger Delta area adding that from 1 Jan 17 till date, the military has recovered 1,389 different types of arms and 20,352 items of munitions from militants and other hostile elements.

The arms recovered included those from militants granted amnesty in Ondo State after they had surrendered.

Continuing, he disclosed that from 1 Jan 17 till date, the Force had seized and impounded 24 vessels, 191 barges, 234 outboard engines and 476 other types of passenger boats.

“Additionally, the Force has seized 105 tanker trucks, 228 other vehicles and 610 pumping machines as well as 76 generator sets and 5,842 other items being used in facilitating illegalities in the JOA.

Brig-Gen Agim, also disclosed that several identified militant camps whose activities have threatened national security have been destroyed in the region.

“Several militants neutralized and camps destroyed in the process. Furthermore, a high profile militant called Ossy IBORI was neutralized at Ajakpa, Ese-Odo LGA of Ondo State.

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“One Augustine GBANGBANRAN, who operated along the Sapele/Warri North axis of Delta State, died of gunshot wounds he sustained in an encounter with troops.

“Operations which were initiated in 2017, eventually led to the neutralization of another notorious militant called Oyawerikumor PEREGBAKUMOR (a.k.a. Kariowei) in early 2018.

“Subject had terrorized communities along the Bomadi/Burutu axis of Delta state, and staged high profile kidnappings including that of four (4) British expatriates in 2017 in which one missionary died.

“These operations were highly successful as they further degraded the capacity of hostile elements to threaten peace in the Niger Delta area.

“In Southern Cross Rivers and Akwa Ibom, Operation Delta Safe carried out an extensive clearance operation from 24 March – 1 April 2018. Prior to the operation, the security situation had significantly deteriorated following violent cult and militants activities.

“Two Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom States namely Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun were cleared of miscreants who had negatively impacted socio-economic life.

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“The operation was a huge success owing to synergy amongst the security agencies in Akwa Ibom State with the OPDS.

“Also, on 11th April 2018, Operation Delta Safe successfully conducted a covert operation with Special Forces.

“It could be recalled that a high profile militant leader of the Bakassi Strike Force alias G1 had continued to pose a transnational threat in Cameroun and the coastal territory of Bakassi, Ikang and environs in Nigeria.

“Concertedly, our troops dislodged the militant group’s camp at a creek along Efut Esighi in Cross River States where several arms and ammunition were recovered and some of the militants neutralized, he added.

The Joint Operations Area (JOA) of the Operation DELTA SAFE (OPDS), covers the entire Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States, as well as the southern parts of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Imo and Ondo States.

Its mandate include; “To protect oil and gas infrastructure and deter militancy, sea robbery, crude oil theft and other forms of criminality within the JOA that could impact negatively on economic activities in the Niger Delta”.

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Story by Julius Eras-Olabowu