Security
Military Records Successes Against Crude Oil Theft, Others – DHQ
By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Defence Headquarters says the Nigerian military under Operation Delta Safe has continued to record more successes in the fight against crude oil theft and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta region.
The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, stated this at a news conference on the operations of Nigerian military on Thursday in Abuja.
Enenche said the Nigerian Navy Ship, Delta, had recently located and dismantled illegal refining sites and a wooden boat.
He said they contain three coolers, 136 dugout pits and 201 surface metal storage tanks in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta.
He added that 174 ovens laden with about 14,434 barrels of suspected stolen crude oil as well as 1.38 million litres of product suspected to be illegally refined AGO were also located and dismantled.
According to him, the storage facilities were dismantled while no arrest was made as operators of the illegal refining sites fled on sighting the team.
“Meanwhile, the illegal refining sites have been earmarked for swamp buggy operation.
Enenche
“Similarly, on May 11, Forward Operating Base ESCRAVOS intercepted three large wooden boats around Madangho and Sara Creek in Warri South Local Government Area of the state.
“The boats were laden with about 12.6 barrels of suspected stolen crude oil and 43,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO.
“Equally, on May 12, the team discovered seven refining units, 13 metal storage tanks and four dugout pits with about 440.3 barrels of stolen crude oil and 180,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO.
“The boats, items and products discovered in the course of the operation were impounded,” he added.
The coordinator further disclosed that Forward Operating Base Ibaka patrol team around Effiat Waterways intercepted an abandoned wooden boat laden with 310 x 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice suspected to be smuggled from the Republic of Cameroon.
He added that on May 14, the Base patrol team also intercepted an abandoned medium size wooden boat laden with about 67 drums of products suspected to be PMS around Enwang Creek.
According to him, the seized bags of foreign parboiled rice, boat and drums of suspected PMS are currently in Forward Operating Base Ibaka custody.
In another development, on May 15, a Chinese vessel, MV HAILUFANG II was attacked by pirates off the Coast of Cote D’Ivoire.
“The pirates took control of the vessel and directed the vessel towards Nigerian Waters.
“The vessel had 18 crew members comprising Chinese, Ghanaian and Ivorian.
“The Nigerian Navy was alerted of the pirate attack and immediately, the Nigerian Navy Ship Nguru was dispatched to intercept the vessel.
“On interception of the vessel at about 140 nautical miles south of Lagos Fairway Buoy, the pirates refused to comply to the orders of the Nigerian Navy Ship, hence the Nigerian Navy had to conduct an opposed boarding of the vessel.
“All the ship crew were safely rescued, while the 10 pirates were also arrested,” he said.
On other operations, Enenche said that the troops operating in various theatres across the country also recorded tremendous successes within the week under review.
He said that troops of Operation Lafiya Dole had killed several members of the Boko Haram Terrorists/ISWAP fighters and senior commanders.
He added that the logistics facilities, gun trucks and other structures of the terrorists were also destroyed as well as recovery of cache of weapons.
According to him, some of these operations occurred in air strikes and other offensive operations executed across the theatre of operation.
In Operation Hadarin Daji, Enenche disclosed that the air component neutralised 27 armed bandits and destroyed some of their dwellings along the Nahuta-Doumborou Corridor on the border between Katsina and Zamfara States.
Under Operation Whirl Stroke, he said a total of 29 bandits and militias were neutralised within the last one week as well as recovery of arms and ammunition.
“The Military High Command congratulates all the gallant troops of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force and personnel of other security agencies involved in various operations across the country.
“Furthermore, the professionalism and dexterity of the Nigerian Navy Ship Nguru is hereby commended.
“It equally appreciates the general public for providing credible information that facilitated the success of various operations.
“The troops are encouraged to remain focused on eliminating the enemies of the country, while the general public is requested to continue to provide credible information in furtherance of our national security,” he said. (NAN)
The development was made known at a workshop focused on gender mainstreaming in efforts to curb the spread of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria and the West African sub-region, held on Tuesday in Abuja.
The workshop was organized by the NCCSALW. Ribadu, represented by the Director of External Affairs from the Office of the National Security Adviser, Amb. Ibrahim Babani, described the president’s assent as a crucial step in the government’s fight against the illegal proliferation of arms.
He noted that this legislative backing would solidify the centre’s authority and facilitate more coordinated efforts to tackle the issue.
Ribadu also emphasized the importance of gender mainstreaming in addressing the arms control problem, citing key international frameworks such as the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.
This resolution underscored the need to protect women from the impacts of conflict and ensure their active participation in peacebuilding and security initiatives.
AIG (rtd) Nuhu Ribadu
National Security Adviser
He also referenced the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, which highlights regional cooperation in stopping the spread of weapons that disproportionately affect women and children in conflict zones.
“The importance of gender mainstreaming in preventing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons cannot be overstated,” Ribadu said. “It strengthens our strategies and ensures our approach to security is inclusive and sustainable.”
Speaking at the workshop, the National Coordinator of NCCSALW, retired Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Johnson Kokumo, detailed the centre’s recent efforts in combating illegal arms proliferation.
Kokumo mentioned that the centre recently retrieved a substantial cache of illegal arms from the Nigeria Customs Service and arrested 10 suspects involved in illicit importation. These suspects are currently being prosecuted for offenses that include the illegal importation of 544 firearms and 112,500 rounds of ammunition, in violation of Nigerian law.
Kokumo further revealed that the centre has retrieved 3,383 decommissioned and illicit small arms, along with 26,749 rounds of ammunition, from various government agencies. He also announced plans for an Arms Destruction Exercise later this quarter to ensure that recovered arms are permanently removed from circulation.
Highlighting the global implications of small arms proliferation, Kokumo said, “The control of small arms and light weapons is not only a national concern but also a matter of international importance.” He added that addressing this issue through a gender-sensitive approach is both a moral imperative and a strategic move, considering the grave impact of armed conflict on women and children.
“This workshop is a significant step in ensuring that gender perspectives are integrated into national and regional strategies for small arms and light weapons control,” he stated.
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