Nigerian Army captures bunkerers armoury in raid against oil theft, unrepentant militants in Azuzuama, Bayelsa
Oredola Adeola
Troops of 5 Battalion operating under 16 Brigade, Nigerian Army, has stepped up its fight against oil theft and militancy in the Niger Delta with the successful raid operation carried out on Sunday 25, June 2023, at Azuzuama Community, Ijaw South Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, which resulted in the capture of an armoury located in a Camp from where suspected unrepentant militants and illegal oil bunkerers carrying out their nefarious activities.
This was disclosed in a statement by Onyema Nwachukwu, Brigadier General, Director Army Public Relations obtained by EnergyDay on Monday.
EnergyDay gathered that this latest raid on the unrepentant Niger Delta militant is coming following the allegation by Asari Dokubo, a prominent Niger Delta leader and former agitator, who accused the Nigerian military, – including the Navy and the Army – of being responsible for the bulk of crude oil theft in the country.
The former Niger Delta leader alleged that some personnel of the Nigerian Army and Navy were behind oil theft in the Niger Delta, claiming that the military and a cabal were behind 99% of oil theft in Nigeria.
However, the Nigerian Army has disagreed with Dokubo’s allegations and challenged him to name the officers involved in oil theft.
Meanwhile, Nwachukwu, in a statement obtained by EnergyDay on Monday said that during Sunday operation on the militant’s camp, the highly motivated troops subdued the suspected militants with superior firepower, compelling them to abandon their camp in disarray.
He said, “The well-conducted raid operation led to the recovery of 5 AK 47 Rifles, 2 Rocket Propelled Grenade Bombs, 4 Rocket Grenade Bomb Chargers, seven 7.62mm Special ammunition, 14 AK 47 Rifle Magazines, and one pumping machine.
“Other items recovered include two 16-inch anchored verves, one mallet hammer, one pipe range spinner, and one axe. The illicit camp has been destroyed by the troops,” the Brigadier General, Director Army Public Relations said.
The Nigerian Army, therefore, urged the public to continue to provide timely and credible information in support of the ongoing effort by the Nigerian Army to ensure that oil theft in the South-South region comes to zero level.
