From Molly Kilete, Abuja,
The Defence Headquarters(DHQ), has declared eight persons including a woman wanted in connection with the brutal killing of 17, officers and soldiers at Okuama community in Delta State on March, 14.
The wanted persons include Akpeywru Daniel Omotegbono (AKA Amagbem), Professor Ekpekpo Arthur, Andaowei Dennis Bakriri, Akaa Malawa David, Sinclear Oliki, Clement Ikolo Ogbenerukevwe and Reuben Baru.
Director Defence Media Operations(DMO), Major General Edward Buba, who made this known, said “The banner of eight wanted persons involved with the killing including a woman is hereby released.
“Accordingly, it is necessary to state that citizens are our first line of intelligence and must rise to the occasion in honour of their nation.
The DHQ, has also announced the
the release of 313 suspects in detention for terrorism-related offenses to Borno State government after a court Order.
Director, Defence Media Operations(DMO), Major General said the court ordered their release for want of evidence after the conclusion of investigation and other ancillary matters.
Buba, who said the cases were prosecuted by the Department of Prosecution, Federal Minitry of Justice, said the freed suspects would be handed over to the Borno State Government for further action.
Gen. Buba, at a media briefing on military operations conducted across the country in the last one week, said soldiers fighting the counter insurgency war in the northeast, recorded significant successes with the killings of 212 criminals and arrest of 252 persons.
He said “Troops also arrested 29 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 244 kidnapped hostages. In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of One Billion Fifty Million Seven and Fifteen Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty Naira (N1,050,715,260.00) only.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 223 assorted weapons and 2,756 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: 3 M56 rifles, 115 AK47 rifles, 3 PKT gun, 24 locally fabricated gun, 36 dane guns, 7 locally fabricated pistols, one fabricated revolver pistol, 3 locally made single barrel guns, 2 hand grenades and one locally made explosive.
“Others are: 1,716 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 494 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 60 rounds of 7.62 x 25mm ammo, 290 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 81 rounds of 9mm ammo, 2 live cartridges, 16 magazines, 3 M56 rifles magazines, one HH radio, 5 vehicles, 14 motorcycles, 15 mobile phones and the sum of N857,960.00 amongst other items.
“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 102 dugout pits, 41 boats, 36 storage tanks and 8 vehicles. Other items recovered incl 39 cooking ovens, 6 pumping machines and 61 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 944,700 litres of stolen crude oil, 171,060 litres of illegally refined AGO and 1,500 litres of DPK.
“The foregoing indicates that troops are weathering the storm through offensive posture and improved understanding of modus operandi of the adversary. Accordingly, we are doing our best to rescue other hostages in terrorist captivity.
“Troops would also continue to elimination threats posed by these terrorist and their cohorts. However, citizens should remember that they are our first line of intelligence. Therefore, as citizens, we have a collective responsibility of doing right”.