Lieutenant-Commander Thomas Otuji, deputy spokesman of the joint task force, in a statement said that the troops also foiled a kidnap attempt after receiving a distress call from members of the public.
He disclosed that during the last ten days at least five oil militants were nabbed in different operations launched by several arms of the force.
According to him, the soldiers also destroyed several illegal refineries during the operations.
The statement added that a detachment of Operation Delta Safe, positioned in Delta state, foiled a kidnap after receiving a distress call from members of the public.
It reads in part: “Troops immediately swung into action and rescued the victims. One Mrs. Vanessa Ilepi and Mrs. Tega Okoro were kidnapped at gunpoint along Amukpe in Warri. One of the suspects was arrested while two escaped.”
“Troops of Sector 4 while on patrol apprehended two suspected militants that stole two high-power outbound boat engines from boat operators.
“They were about selling the engines at Aqua Beach when the troops arrested them. The arrested suspects, Mr. Elijah Daniel and Francis Shedrack were subsequently handed over to Nigeria Police Force for further action”
“No arrest was made as bunkerers fled the site on hearing the sound of own patrol boat.
Similarly, while on anti-illegal patrol at Ogbongha and Bille creeks at Bonny local government area, troops found five illegal oil dumps with five drums of stolen crude oil.
“The troops also found one 85 HP speedboat, four pumping machine, one welding machine, three parks of welding electrodes, two compressors, one generator, six shovels, three handsaw, one manual jack and 10 bags of cement”, he said.
“Troops immediately swung into action and rescued the victims. One Mrs. Vanessa Ilepi and Mrs. Tega Okoro were kidnapped at gunpoint along Amukpe in Warri.
“One of suspects Mr. Daniel Egbelu was arrested while two escaped. Effort is ongoing to apprehend the escaped suspected kidnappers.
A locally cut-to-size made single barrel gun was recovered from the arrested kidnapper.
“Members of the public are therefore urged to provide useful information to own troops in order to apprehend these criminals.
Operation Delta Safe will continue to ensure conducive environment for legitimate businesses to thrive within its joint operation area in line with its mandate.”
In a related development, illegal refineries at Opumami and Okogho creeks in Warri South and North local government areas of Delta State were destroyed by the soldiers in Sector 1 of Operation Delta Safe.
The military spokesperson added that troops responded to a tip-off and arrested three suspected militants in a hideout at Okon Mkpa Community of Efut Esighi, Bakassi local government area.
According to the Niger Delta militants the current economic recession in Nigeria was caused by the militancy in the Niger Delta region.
The country remains burdened by rapidly declining government revenues due to low oil prices—an issue that is part of a vicious cycle of renewed militancy in the Niger Delta, current security challenges in the northeast, an inflation rate that reached 16.5% in June (an 11-year record), and investor uncertainty.
Naij
Naij
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