Defence Headquarters says the military has arrested seven suspected sea robbers, impounded bags of smuggled rice and destroyed oil thieves’ camp in the Niger-Delta region in the last one week.
The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this while giving update on the Armed Forces of Nigeria operations between July 9 and 16 at a news conference Thursday in Abuja.
Enenche said that in the South-South zone of the country, the Land and Maritime components of Operation DELTA SAFE have recorded tremendous successes within the period under review.
“Troops of 3 battalion arrested seven suspected sea pirates at Snake creek in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta.
“The suspects who claimed to be members of Ogje-Ijoh Coastal Watch were allegedly extorting money and other valuables from the locals within the creek.
“Items recovered from them are two double barrel guns, one pump action gun, 12 live cartridges and six handsets.
According to him, Nigerian Navy Ship JUBILEE also discovered and destroyed a sea robbers camp containing 80,000 litres of illegally refined AGO at Otoyo in Eastern Obolo LGA of Akwa Ibom.
“Relatedly, troops of 146 battalion and Forward Operating Base Bonny raided militants’ hideouts at Ijawkiri in Bonny LGA of Rivers.
“During the raid, troops recovered a pistol loaded with six rounds of 9mm ammunition, 17 phones, one Walkie Talkie and speedboat mounted with a 75HP engine,” he said.
He said that in another development, Operation CALM WATERS and Operation SWIFT RESPONSE within this period, impounded 112 bags of 50 kg foreign parboiled rice.
“These operations were conducted with the combined teams of Operation SWIFT RESPONSE and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) strike force.
These operations are targeted at reducing the smuggling of contrabands into the country,” he said.
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