- Arrest major gunrunner fueling crises in Benue, Taraba states
Troops of Operation DELTA STATE destroyed 36 illegal refining sites in the South-South zone of the country last week in an attempt to sustain the momentum against the activities of crude oil theft in the region.
Troops also arrested a high-profile gunrunner within the Onitsha general area in Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The arrest of the man described as a major supplier of arms and ammo to an arms syndicate based in Benue and Taraba States was made possible through intelligence, the military acknowledged.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba disclosed this on Thursday at a press briefing in Abuja. He warned that as the perpetrators and crude oil thefts had refused to give up their illegal acts, troops, and other security agencies would continue to hunt them.
He said that troops of the joint task force discovered and destroyed 61 dugout pits, 32 wooden boats, 87 storage tanks, 3 vehicles, 126 cooking ovens, 3 outboard engines, one speedboat, 2 motorcycles, one generator, 2 pumping machines .
Troops also recovered 310,700 litres of crude oil, 14,675 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 49,000 litres of Dual Purpose kerosine, one weapon, 3 ammunition and apprehended 22 suspects engaged in crude oil theft.
One of the encounters occurred on July 24, 2023, at Wellhead Cluster Opukushi Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State where troops on anti-illegal bunkering operations intercepted and
destroy one wooden boat loaded with 1000 litres of product suspected to be
stolen crude oil .
Major General Buba said that troops of Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA in the South East also resulted a huge success as raids were conducted “on camps/hideouts of Indigenous
People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network gunmen at UMUNNEOCHI, Anambra West Local Government Area of Abia and at Mmiata Anam Forest in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State.”
Specifically on July 24, 2023, following kidnaping incident along Road NGODO –
ISUOCHI in UMUNNEOCHI Local Government Area of Abia State. Troops
conducted a raid and rescued 9 victims in the general area and ensured that the rescued victims were reunited with their families.
He said that the gun men who perpetrated the act are on the run and would soon meet their Waterloo.
In a separate operation, on same July 24, 2023, troops raided suspected Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network hideout at Mmiata
Anam Forest in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State.
During the fire fight, troops neutralized one suspect while others fled. Troops recovered one AK 47 rifle with 35 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammo, one Dane gun, one locally made hand grenade, one pumping machine, one chainsaw, rain coats/boots, NP uniforms/boots, Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network uniforms and assorted drinks. Troops also destroyed their 3 vehicles and 9 motorcycles.
The Director of Defence Media Operation said raids by troops was not restricted to forests and hide outs but some shops at Onitsha Main Market in Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State where a suspected gun runner was arrested by troops .
Items recovered includes 6 Pump action guns, 925 machetes, 151 machete sharpeners, 1,080 sickles, one speaker and the sum of Two Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira (N280,000.00) only
While on July 27, 2023 a High Profile Gunrunner was arrested within Onitsha general area in Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The arrest was based on credible intelligence that revealed him to be a major supplier of arms and
ammo to an arms syndicate based in Benue and Taraba States.
He appealed to well meaning citizens to volunteer information about criminal elements within their environs to the military and action would be taken .