Troops recovers 113 hostages, arrests 381 persons, others

By Matthew Denis

Proactive steps to ensure insecurity in the country, the Nigerian troops have recorded a major success in its fight against terrorism and oil theft, rescuing 113 kidnapped hostages and recovering 920,800 litres of stolen crude oil, 88,760 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 7,500 litres of PMS.

Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday while briefing journalists on the military’s successes across various theatres of operation.

According to General Buba, troops also neutralized 147 terrorists, arrested 381 persons, and destroyed 84 illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta area.

He further stated that troops recovered 74 assorted weapons, 3,498 assorted ammunition, and denied oil thieves of Nine Hundred and Forty Three Million One Hundred and Sixty One Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty Naira (N943,161,680.00).

The military’s efforts also led to the destruction of 15 dugout pits, 17 boats, 62 drums, one receiver, and 27 storage tanks used for illegal oil bunkering.

General Buba noted that the intensified war against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta has led to a noticeable increase in national crude oil production, although daily production targets are yet to be achieved.