JTF South East Destroys 217 Illegal Refineries in Q2-Q4
JOEL OLADELE, Abuja
Among many other achievements, the Joint Task Force (JTF) South East Udo Ka has destroyed 217 illegal refineries and seized nearly one million liters of stolen crude oil during its operations in the second to fourth quarters (Q2-Q4) of 2024.
This was disclosed by General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, H.T. Dada, in an operational briefing on Tuesday.
According to Dada, the focus of the JTF’s operations has primarily been the challenges posed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and their militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), both of which have been linked to rising violence, oil theft, and organized crime in the region.
The GOC pointed out that “the complex operational environments in the South East have necessitated the continuous conduct of kinetic operations,” noting that recent months witnessed a considerable shift of adversary activities from Anambra and Imo States to Ebonyi State.
He detailed the joint operations conducted, including OP CHANNEL SWEEP, OP RIVER SHIELD, and OP DRAGON SPIT. Specifically, he reported that “the operations have led to tremendous successes in the arrest of the economic saboteurs in the SE region. Series of arrests were made, so many illegal refining dump sites have been destroyed and a lot of tankers conveying illegally refined products were intercepted and destroyed in-situ.
“The high point of these operations was the recent Op DRAGON SPIT conducted by all sectors for 4 weeks between late June and early July across the Division. As part of relentless troops operations against illegal bunkering activities within OPUK TOO.
“A total number of 78 anti-illegal bunkering activities was carried out leading to arrest of over 60 suspected bunkerers as well as recovery of over 40 vehicles (of different model) and 33 motorcycles, all loaded with illegally obtained crude/products. “Additionally, a total number of quantity 993,000L of stolen crude oil and 237,000L of AGO was seized and destroyed in-situ while metal scraps used for building of illegal refinery weighing more than 57,000 kg have been recovered from the general area of Owaza,”
He also said a total of 27 x ESN terrorist were neutralized during the troops’ clearance operations aimed at effectively contain security threats and allow economic activities to flourish in the region.
“Additionally, our troops swiftly staged a counter offensive operation against the outlawed IPOB/ESN who carried out a deadly attack on Isheke Police Station on 26 Jun 24. During the process, troops neutralized 5 x IPOB members and recovered 1 PKT gun with link belt containing 94 rds of ammunitions, 2 x AK 47 rifles with 3 Magazines containing 11 rounds of 7.62mm Special, one SMG rifle and one Sienna vehicle with Reg No, Ebonyi CHR- 364 JC.
“During the period under review, a total of 83 raid operations were carried out within this period which has led to the arrest over 48 IPOB/ESN informants, sleepers’ cell and logistic merchants. Also, a total of 27 x ESN terrorist were neutralized during operations,” Dada stated.
Speaking on the efforts of JTF in combating kidnappings, Dada revealed that “a total number of 82 persons were rescued by combined troops within the period under review,” underlining the importance of rapid response to kidnapping threats across the region. Several rescue operations were highlighted, including the successful retrieval of three kidnapped victims in Nsukka and the foiling of an attempted kidnapping of 26 passengers along a key roadway.
The GOC also emphasized the importance of non-kinetic operations, noting that community engagement efforts such as medical outreach, educational support, and humanitarian aid play a crucial role in the JTF’s strategy.
“The modest efforts of the Division in this regard are worthy of mention,” he remarked, detailing initiatives like providing medical services in local villages and distributing palliative support to vulnerable communities.
Dada noted the collaborative approach taken with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to counteract the propaganda pushed by secessionist groups, stating, “This has further enabled page handlers to share stories, showcase humanitarian efforts, and highlight the positive impact of our operations.”
According to him, the strong performance of the JTF in recent months underlines a commitment to ensuring the safety and security of citizens in the South East region.
He reaffirmed that the JTF “will continue to intensify efforts to ensure the TOO is safe and the citizens can go about their normal businesses,” while also committing to improve troop capacity and sustain collaborative efforts with other security agencies.
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