JTF Arrests 555 Suspects, Destroys 988 Illegal Refineries

The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, codenamed ‘Operation Delta Safe’, said it has arrested 555 suspects involved in oil theft, while 988 illegal refining and militants’ camps had been destroyed in the last six months.
The operation, which covers the nine states of Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Cross River, Imo, Abia and Ondo, was carried out between March 19 and September 9, 2019.
The Commander, OPDS, Real Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade, disclosed this, last Saturday, during the flag-off ceremony of Operation Safety Check 6 in Okrika, Rivers State.
In his speech, Akinrinade said the operation was aimed at stepping up the tempo in the joint operation area as the year gradually comes to an end.
The commander said the objective of the operation was to sustain the successes recorded so far and improve on operational efforts to deny criminal elements within the joint task force area of access to illegal petroleum products.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 30 members of the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Services (SBS) have abandoned ship during training on asymmetric war and how to confront emergency threats towards providing the required security in the nation’s maritime environment.
The 30 trainees were part of the 53 engaged by the Special Boat Services section of the force, equivalent of Navy Sail, to undergo 24 weeks of intensive training that would mould them in becoming Special Forces operatives.
The training was also to expose them to counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, riverine operations, as well as anti-piracy operations.
Addressing the remaining 23 personnel of the force during their graduation in Lagos, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Admiral Stanford Enoch, said that the personnel that stayed and completed the training had proved their mettle and demonstrated that they have mental tenacity, physical toughness and the will consistent with Special Operation Forces around the world.
Enoch said that the objective of the SBS training was to build capacity to deal decisively with asymmetric threats and to confront emergency threats towards providing the required security in the nation’s maritime environment and other parts of the country.