Military winning war against oil theft — DHQ

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Thursday, announced a noticeable increase in the nation’s crude oil production following the recently rejiggered war against crude oil theft operations in the Niger Delta.

Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Edward Buba announced this in Abuja while speaking at the bi-weekly media parley with Defence Correspondents on the ongoing military operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), and other security agencies in the various theaters against insurgency activities across the country as at August 15 this year

According to General Buba, ” the recently rejiggered war against crude oil theft operations in the Niger Delta has began to yield noticeable increase in the nations’s crude oil production.

“Though we are not yet at where we want to be in terms of daily crude oil production, troops will sustenance the renewed vigor and momentum till crude oil production target is achieved and exceeded.”

Worried by the alarming rate of oil theft in the region, President Bola Tinubu gave a marching order to the military high Command to immediately stop the trend in the national intest

Consequently, both Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen S G Busa summoned a high level stakeholders meeting where the issue was extensively addressed

This was followed by another stakeholders meeting convened by the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla in Abuja where he assured increased security in the region for maritime sector to increase the crude oil daily production

Speaking after the stakeholders meeting, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari announced that the current Nation’s crude Oil production of 1.6m barrels daily was expected to hit 2 million barrels per day by the end of the year, given the current full support to the Nigerian Navy leading to reduction to crude oil theft in the country.

Speaking ongoing operations across the other other parts of the country, Buba stated that the military remained focused on defeating and killing the enemy wherever they were hiding.

According to him, ” Indeed, we are in a better place today, than at any previous time.

“During the week under review, troops neutralised 147 and arrested 381 persons while Troops also arrested 23 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 113 kidnapped hostages.

“In the South South, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of nine hundred and forty-three million, one hundred and sixty-one thousand, six hundred and eighty naira (N943,161,680.00) only.

He added that ” the troops also recovered 74 assorted weapons and 3,498 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: one dushka, one RPG bomb, one RPG charger, 42 AK47 rifles, 10 fabricated rifles, 13 dane guns, one FN rifle, one revolver pistol, one locally made pistol, 27 magazines, one AK47 dummy rifle, one AK47 top cover and one baofeng radio.

According to him, “others are: 288 rounds RG55 ammo, 40 rounds CJ95 ammo, 2,466 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 470 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 73 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 112 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 42 live cartridges, 6 vehicles, 32 motorcycles and 8 mobile phones amongst other items.

“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 15 dugout pits, 17 boats, 62 drums, one receiver and 27 storage tanks. Other items recovered include 32 cooking ovens, 2 outboard engines, 2 pumping machines, 2 vehicles, one tricycle, 3 motorcycles and 84 illegal refining sites.

“Troops recovered 920,800 litres of stolen crude oil, 88,760 litres of illegally refined AGO and 7,500 litres of PMS.

He further explained that “Overall, we are constantly assessing our actions, adjusting and amending our operations in order annihilate terrorist across.

“Accordingly, troops are working decisively to kill the terrorist , stop the insecurity and ensure the safety of citizens across the country.

He urged citizens to note that, ” winning the war depends not only on the military, weapons and finances. It also largely depends on the people. Together we can make an extra ordinary difference in wiping out insecurity in our nation.”

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