By Victor Akaa, Abuja.
Troops of gun boats of Forward Operating Base IBAKA had on 9th January,2021 intercepted and arrested 2 smugglers carrying a large wooden boat laden containing 1,184 of 25kg bags of Yaraliva Nitrabor Fertilizer
while on routine patrol around Effiat waterways in the South South part of the country.
The suspected smugglers were believed to have smuggled the products from the Republic of Cameroon into the country,according to Maj. Gen. Enenche.
This operation was in continuation of aggressive fight against economic sabotage in the zone by the troops of Operation DELTA SAFE.
Gen. Enenche who is the Coordinator of Defence Media Operations (DMO) disclosed this in Abuja while briefing Defence Correspondents on the military operations across the country from 7th to 13th January, 2021 on Thursday.
While expressing his fear over the arrest of the fertilizer, Gen. Enenche noted that it posed a great threat to insecurity considering the current security challenges in the country.
According to him, the fertilizer has some potentialities that could be used for the fabrication of explosives by the criminals because of some chemical components called ammonium nitrate contained in the product.
He stated, “while fertilizers are majorly for agricultural purposes, the possibility of it being acquired by criminal gangs, terrorists and militants for sinister purposes cannot be disregarded as fertilizer has remained a potential component for the fabrication of explosives owing to its content of ammonium nitrate.”
He said, both the 2 suspects including the items were currently in custody and will soon be handed over to the appropriate prosecuting authority.
The DMO Coordinator also noted that the troops had on 11th January 2021, while on routine patrol around MBO River arrested another 2 suspects with a medium size wooden boat laden containing 17 drums of 300 litres of products suspected to be PMS within the period under review.
Explaining further, Gen. Enenche said, troops of the Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA has conducted anti-Crude Oil Theft operation
in conjunction with Forward Operating Base ESCRAVOS around the general area of Warri South Local Government Area during which one large wooden boat laden with about 215,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil along Jones Creek, Warri South West Local Government Area was intercepted and apprehended.
The operation which took place on 11th January 21,was sequel to the credible intelligence report by the troops,says Gen. Enenche.
“These arrests affirm Armed Forces of Nigeria’s commitment towards eradicating sundry crimes in the country.”
Gen. Enenche however added that the military has conducted series of operations such as rescue operations,clearances,ambushes and aerial patrols in other parts of the zones including North East,West and Central resulting to the elimination of dozens of criminal elements,rescued kidnapped victims, destruction of gun trucks as well as criminal hideouts and recovery firearms and rustled livestock, among others within the period.
