DHQ deploys troops for Ondo guber poll

The defence headquarters (DHQ) says it has deployed troops to assist the police in ensuring a hitch-free Ondo governorship election on Saturday.

In a statement on Thursday, Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, said the presence of troops during the election will ensure the security of citizens and enable voters to cast their votes without harassment or intimidation.

Speaking about the troops’ activities across the country, Buba said the military killed 88 terrorists and apprehended 228 suspects

He said the troops also nabbed 40 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 181 hostages during the week.

“Accordingly, operations are being modified to box in these terrorists, while also increasing operational intensity to ensure total destruction of all terror groups and dismantling of their terror networks,” the statement reads.

“Furthermore, troops recovered 84 assorted weapons and 2,393 assorted ammunition.

“The breakdown is as follows: 34 AK-47 rifles, 15 fabricated rifles, 11 dane guns, five fabricated revolver pistols, eight locally made pistols, three pump action guns, and one magnum pump action.

“Others are 1,807 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 314 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 146 rounds of 7.62mm PKM ammo, 77 rounds of 9mm ammo, 49 live cartridges, 25 magazines, two Baofeng radios, 16 vehicles, 35 motorcycles, 27 mobile phones, and the sum of N1.8 million, amongst other items.”

Buba said the troops in the Niger Delta area destroyed 13 crude oil cooking ovens, 20 dugout pits, 73 boats, 25 storage tanks, and 59 illegal refining sites during the week.

He said three barges, seven speedboats, 73 drums, one tricycle, five pumping machines, three mobile phones, and nine vehicles were recovered during the operation.

The defence spokesperson said the troops recovered 942,420 litres of stolen crude oil, 175,075 litres of illegally refined automotive gas oil (AGO), and 4,980 litres of petrol.

“Overall, troop offensives have severely depleted ISWAP terrorist rank and file in the north-east forcing a desperate recruitment drive,” he said.

“Similarly, terrorists in the north-west are on a recruitment drive on social media for new recruits.

“Troops are aware of the situation and working with other security agencies and governments to thwart the plans.”