Troops of Operation Delta Safe, in one week, uncovered and destroyed 60 illegal refining sites and apprehended 30 suspected oil thieves in the Niger Delta.
Defence spokesman Edward Buba stated this in a briefing with journalists on the operations of the Nigerian Armed Forces on Thursday in Abuja.
Mr Buba said the troops also discovered and destroyed 37 dugout pits, 65 boats, 71 storage tanks, 14 vehicles, 108 cooking ovens, four pump machines and one speedboat.
He said the troops recovered 1.01 million litres of stolen crude oil, 299,169 litres of illegally refined AGO and 3,158 litres of DPK.
According to him, troops raided a suspected extremist militant hideout in Obot Akara LGA of Akwa Ibom and Akuku-Toru and Okrika LGA of Rivers.
“Troops also neutralised two violent extremists, apprehended 30 suspected oil thieves and recovered 15 assorted weapons, 234 assorted ammunition, eight motorcycles, two tricycles and five pairs of woodland camouflage,” he said.
In the South-East, Buba said the troops of Operation UDOKA arrested suspected violent extremists/insurgents in Isu-Uzo and Edda LGA of Enugu and Ebonyi States during the week.
He said the troops arrested 15 violent extremists/IPOB members, rescued three kidnapped hostages and recovered weapons, FRSC uniforms and police accoutrements.
NAN
[11/01, 3:32 pm] Editor: Wife seeks divorce over husband’s alleged infidelity
Ahousewife, Sa’adatu Ayuba, has urged a Dei-Dei Grade I Area Court, to dissolve her 27-year-old marriage to her husband, Jalija for alleged infidelity.
The petitioner got married to Mr Jalija in accordance with Islamic law in 1997 and was blessed with five children ages 25, 22, 14, nine and seven.
She said, “I got married since I was 16 years old. I was never with any other man before my marriage. Since two years ago, I have been having misunderstandings with him because he got a girlfriend outside our marriage. He has not been functioning as a man. I am tired of the situation and his attitude and want a divorce in the interest of justice.’’
In his response, Mr Jalija said the petitioner’s allegation was false, saying he had no girlfriend.
He said, ‘‘I married another wife and I am performing perfectly as a man. The lady I married has one child for me. We got married in her village.’’
He added that he had been playing his husband’s role to the petitioner as a real man.
The petitioner however, faulted her husband’s claim saying that the woman in question was his girlfriend.
She said that she was not aware that her husband got married to the woman.
The judge, Malam Saminu Suleiman, gave the couple one week to settle the matter amicably and adjourned the matter until January 17 for feedback.
[11/01, 3:37 pm] Editor: Operator seeks help after losing five children, six others in boat accident
Aresident of Ngo Town in Rivers State, Promise Festus, on Thursday appealed for assistance after he lost five of his children in Tuesday’s boat accident in the state.
The commercial boat, which he drove, capsized in the Andoni-Bonny waterway, resulting in the drowning of at least 11 of its passengers.
Mr Festus was returning his children to Ngo Town from his village after the Christmas and New Year celebrations when tragedy struck.
We went to celebrate Christmas with my people, and on my way back with my family, I decided to carry people in my boat because they had no means of travelling. Unfortunately, the boat capsized and there was no rescue in sight. Eleven persons, including my sons and daughters, lost their lives in the process,’’ he said.
A visibly-devastated, Mr Festus expressed profound agony at the loss of his children.
“In my presence, my children died. In my presence, everything in my life – phone, money, boat, business – was lost. I have lost everything, and I don’t even know how to begin anew.
“I want the Rivers State government and Andoni Local Government to help me. Please, forgive any sins I have committed and extend assistance to me,’’ he sobbed.