JTF Arrests 894, Recovers Weapons In Bayelsa

Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has commended the Joint Task Force, South South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), for the success recorded in the past eight months.

He said that the troops have been able to deactivate 1,129 illegal refineries, arrested 894 suspects in connection with various crimes and destroyed about 14 militant/sea robbers’ camps with 112 assorted weapons recovered from February till date.

The defence minister who made the disclosure yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the JTF headquarters at Igbogene in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, said that in the past three months, the country’s average crude oil production has been 1.7 million barrels per day (BPD).

“Operational successes of OPDS from February to October 10, 2024, deactivation of about 1,129 IRS (each with different camps), destruction of over 1,115 storage facilities and 750 large wooden boats, arrest and appropriate handling of 265 vehicles (tankers, trucks, cars and tricycles) conveying crude oil and IR products.

According to him, successes recorded within the period include, “Appropriate handling of over 12,445,062 litres of stolen crude oil; appropriate handling of about 4,564,930 litre of IR AGO; appropriate handling of about 130,970 litres of DPK and seizure of about 250,330 litres of PMS.

“I confirmed yesterday at Bonny in Rivers State that most of the lines are delivering at 100 per cent of what is being pumped with some dwindling at 95 and 96, which means all the illegal connections have, to a large extent, been removed. I want to encourage you to sustain this effort.

“I want to thank you on behalf of Mr President and to tell you he is with you and aware of what you are doing, and he will continue to support you as you support our country. I thank you sincerely for the good job you are doing, keep it up please sustain it and never deter of protecting the common wealth,” he said.