The Nigerian troops operating in the code name, Operation DELTA SAFE have arrested a suspected notorious criminal identified as Uwem Asuquo with a human skull. The troops who acted on credible intelligence nabbed Asuquo in Ini Local Government Area (LGA) of Akwa Ibom state. The troops also recovered from the suspect one locally made single barrel gun, one locally made pistol, 2 mobile phones.
This was disclosed by the new Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Markus Kangye on Thursday, during his maiden press briefing in Abuja, on the ongoing military operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria across various theatres of operations in the country.
The director similarly revealed that 75 terrorists have been neutralized by fighting troops in the past two weeks.
He said, “On 6 February 2025, following credible intelligence, troops arrested one notorious criminal identified as Uwem Asuquo in Ini LGA of Akwa Ibom State. One locally made single barrel gun, one locally made pistol, 2 mobile phones and one human skull were recovered from the criminal.
“During the week under review, land component of the Armed Forces conducted joint operation with the ONSA team, security agencies and hybrid forces. These operations include; fighting and confidence building patrols, raids, ambushes and clearance as well as search and rescue operations.
In the cause of the operations, they neutralized several terrorists, apprehended their collaborators, rescued kidnapped victims and received surrendered terrorists. Gunrunners, oil theft collaborators and other violent extremists were also apprehended.
“The air component also, conducted several close air supports, armed reconnaissance patrols as well as air interdiction.
For instance, between 3 January – 13 February 2025, a total of 75 terrorists were neutralized while 138 suspected others were arrested. Troops also apprehended 36 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 46 kidnapped hostages.
“In the SS, troops foiled oil theft estimated to the tune of about Six Hundred and Forty-six Million, One Hundred and Eighty-nine Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety Naira (N646,189,690.00) only. The breakdown includes: 497,152 litres of stolen crude oil, 142,000 litres of illegally refined AGO and 4,075 litres of PMS. Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 164 crude oil cooking ovens, 37 dugout pits, 19 boats, 16 storage tanks, 38 drums and 42 illegal refining sites.
“Other items recovered include 3 pumping machines, 4 tricycles, 7 motorcycles, 5 mobile phones and 3 vehicles among others”, the director said.
On troops of Operation UDO KA, he said the military neutralized 4 IPOB/ESN terrorists, arrested 6 others and rescued 4 hostages.
“Troops recovered one FN rifle, one Single Barrel Pump Action gun, one double barrel gun, 2 Pistols, one dane gun, 440 rounds of 7.62 mm NATO, 60 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammo, 13 magazines, one RPG bomb, 2 hand grenades, 15 IEDs, 33 Boafeng Radios, one binocular, 6 mobile phones and the sum of 46,300.00 only”, he said.
Assuring that the military will work in synergy with the media as a critical stakeholder in the fight against terrorists and criminals, while answering question on his plans to enhance the ongoing war against insurgency, the director said the populace should trust in the military winning the war.
He added, “The gallant men and women of the AFN will continue to carry out constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives and properties of all Nigerians in line with our constitutional roles”.
