Four terrorist collaborators have been arrested by troops of operations Hadin Kai and Whirl Stroke in Borno and Benue States respectively.
They were arrested in separate operations conducted between October 9 and 11, 2023.
A statement on Friday by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba disclosed that after investigations, three collaborators nabbed in Borno facilitated ransoms for the terrorists.
He also said the suspect arrested in Benue collected levies from residents for terrorists.
The statement partly read, “Between 10 and 11 October 2023 troops intercepted two kidnapped escapees. Troops also arrested 3 terrorist collaborators in Nganzai LGA of Borno State. Preliminary investigation revealed that the 3 collaborators were terrorists’ ransom facilitators. Troops reunited the two escapees with their families.
“On 9 October 2023, troops while on fighting patrol arrested one terrorist collaborator in Ukum LGA of Benue State. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect collects levies from the locals for the terrorists. ”
He added that the activities of troops across the country in the last week resulted in the arrest of 95 terrorists while 37 were killed.
Edward revealed that troops arrested 19 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 53 kidnapped hostages.
He also said troops recovered stolen crude oil products worth N3,399,029,850.00.
“The operations of the last one week, resulted in 37 neutralized terrorists while 95 of them were arrested. Troops also arrested 19 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 53 kidnapped hostages. In the South-South geo-political zone, troops denied oil theft of the estimated sum of N3,399,029,850.00 only.
Troops in the Niger Delta area also discovered and destroyed 42 dugout pits, 82 boats, 143 storage tanks, 234 cooking ovens, 56 illegal refining sites, 61 hoses, 17 drums, one pumping machine, 2 outboard engines, and one vessel. Troops recovered 6,009,500 litres of stolen crude oil, 425,715 litres of illegally refined AGO, 38,100 litres of DPK, and 4,500 liters of PMS, ” the statement added.
Buba, however, said troops recovered 100 assorted weapons and 1,207 assorted ammunition within the week under review.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
