Military foils oil theft worth N217m, rescues 318 kidnapped victims in November, says DHQ

The Defence Headquarters says troops foiled oil theft valued at N217 million and rescued 318 kidnapped victims in November as the military ramps up operations against terrorists, bandits and other criminal networks across the country.

Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed this during the monthly press briefing on Thursday in Abuja, where he presented report on the ongoing security operations nationwide.

Read also: Army rescues 12 abducted teenage girls in Borno

Onoja noted that although Nigeria continues to grapple with terrorism in the North East, banditry and kidnapping in the North West and North Central, separatist violence in the South East, and oil-related crimes in the Niger Delta, the military remains “unwavering in its resolve to defeat all threats to national security.”

According to him, in November alone, troops also foiled oil theft worth N217.66 million, destroyed 16 illegal refining sites and intercepted 201,700 litres of crude oil and 88,177 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

Onoja commended troops for their bravery and operational successes and called on citizens to continue providing credible intelligence to aid military operations.

He also appealed for public support for the Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem launched by President Bola Tinubu on December 2.

He assured Nigerians that the military is taking “all measures humanly possible” to secure the release of students recently abducted in the country.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria will continue to operate within the law and will sustain this renewed operational tempo until peace is fully restored across all troubled areas,” Onoja said.

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