The Defence Headquarters announced that troops of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) recovered 21,573,310 litres of stolen crude oil valued at over N20 billion in the first quarter of 2024. Additionally, the troops seized 2,723,430 litres of illegally refined diesel, 53,300 litres of kerosene, and 52,730 litres of petrol. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen. Edward Buba, disclosed these achievements during a briefing at the DHQ headquarters in Abuja.
In the same period, the troops arrested 25 suspected oil thieves and other violent extremists. Maj-Gen. Buba also provided updates on the successes of the troops in the last three months, highlighting the neutralization of terrorist leaders and the recovery of arms and ammunition. Some of the terrorist leaders killed include Abu Bilal Minuki (aka Abubakar Mainok) and Haruna Isiya Boderi, a notorious terrorist operating in Kaduna State and along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway.
Maj-Gen. Buba emphasized the effectiveness and result-oriented nature of the ongoing operations, noting that the military is focused on eliminating terrorists and their support infrastructure. He highlighted the military's readiness, preparedness, and equipment to tackle the terrorists and their cohorts, emphasizing the use of significant firepower to disrupt their activities.
The successes of the military in combating oil theft and terrorism demonstrate its commitment to ensuring security and stability in the Niger Delta region and across the country.
