According to the Defence Headquarters, in the past two weeks, 80 illicit refining stations in the South-South region were destroyed by Operation Delta Safe forces as part of Operation Octopus Grip.
At the bi-weekly news conference on military operations on Thursday in Abuja, Maj.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, director of defence media operations, said this.
Onyeuko claimed that the operation also resulted in the discovery and demolition of 87 dugout trenches, 60 wooden boats, 316 storage tanks, and 262 ovens.
“According to the facts that were accessible, the country’s economy had lost a sizable amount of money, with a street value of roughly N2.5 billion.
According to Onyeuko, the military operations took place in the Delta State communities of Madangho, Kokoye, and Jones Creek as well as the Bayelsa communities of Obi Sagbama Village and Debu Creek.
He claims that troops also patrolled the Rivers towns of Awoba, Cawthorne Channel, Boning Channel, and Asaramatu.
“In addition, 27 pipeline vandals were detained, while troops also found nine speed boats, 15 outboard engines, 19 pumping devices, and 17 cars.
“In all, 5.1 liters of material thought to be crude oil and 1.4 liters of illegally refined automotive gas oil were found.
“All economic saboteurs who had been apprehended as well as any items that had been found were given to the proper authorities for further action.
A total of 402 (50 kg) bags of foreign rice and 193 litres of PMS in 30 gallons were seized and taken into custody by Operation AWATSE forces in the South-West zone, according to the director of defense media operations.
Additionally, he said that during that time, Operation Safe Conduct troops detained a suspected political thug in the Osho-Egbedore village of Osun’s Egbedore Local Government Area.
The suspect’s belongings included a mobile phone, five cartridges, and a locally made pistol, according to Onyeuko.
The defense media operations spokesman added that during the raid operation at Old Garage in Osogbo metropolis, troops also apprehended nine members of the renowned kidnapping gang who were terrorizing the residents of Osogbo.