March 22, 2024

… Recover decomposing hearts of killed soldiers

The Defence Headquarters said that troops have intensified a manhunt to apprehend the killers of 18 military in OKuama community of Delta state.

It said that troops are also conducting clearance operations as well as cordon and search to recover, among other things, the weapons of the deceased soldiers.

The military high command said this through the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba.

Buba in a statement on Friday, March 22, said some of the communities in which troops have conducted operations are Akugbene, Ukuama, and Okoloba Communities in Ugheli and Ugheli South of Delta State, Ukuama Amusamo, Akwagbe, Arhavwarien, Pirigbene, and Igbomatoro Communities, in Delta State.

He said: “The decomposing hearts of some of the killed soldiers were recovered during the search, while the manhunt container with no significant arrest yet made.

“Significantly, there is a viral video of a person admitting to have perpetrated the killings of the soldier in Delta State. The video among other things helps to narrow investigations to persons of interest and their cohorts.

“Accordingly, the state governments and host communities of these personalities are required to assist instigation in flushing them out. There can be no hiding place for perpetrators of such dastardly acts against our nation. This is a clarion call to duty by members of those communities and the state governments.”

Giving updates on troops’ successes across other theatres of operation during the week, the Defence spokesperson said troops neutralised 106 terrorists and arrested 103 criminals.

He said troops also arrested 22 oil thieves and rescued 96 kidnap victims.

Buba said troops recovered 171 assorted weapons comprising 47 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, 18 pump action rifles, 17 locally fabricated guns, 14 dane guns, 12 locally fabricated pistols, one fabricated revolver, one hand grenade, 81mm mortar bomb, one mortar tube and four bandoliers.

He said troops also recovered 2,452 assorted ammunition, comprising 995 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 468 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 317 live cartridges, 125 rounds of 9mm ammo, 313 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 13 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm, 19 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 167 empty shells of 7.62mm special ammo, 45 empty shells of 7.62mm NATO, 72 empty cases of cartridges, 14 magazines.

Other items recovered, according to defence spokesperson are 10 vehicles, 23 motorcycles, 19 mobile phones, one bicycle, four baofeng radios, and the sum of N112,920.00 amongst other items.

He said: “Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 51 dugout pits, 17 boats, 15 storage tanks and 4 vehicles. Other items recovered included 21 cooking ovens, 3 pumping machines and 40 illegal refining sites.

 “Troops recovered 772,350 litres of stolen crude oil, 80,530 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 1,500 litres of DPK.”

The military high command said the ongoing counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operation across the country is a fight for our sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation.

Buba said the troops would continue to put themselves in harm’s way to protect and secure the citizens of this country.