Nation
Troops Recover Aircraft Engines From Crash Site, Eliminate 88 Terrorists
The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, on Thursday, announced that its troops had recovered two calibrated aircraft engines from a longstanding unidentified aircraft crash site in the North-East. DHQ also reported that troops eliminated 88 terrorists within the past week.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Markus Kangye, made this known while addressing journalists in Abuja on the operations of the armed forces. He explained that the recovered aircraft engines had been handed over to the Nigerian Air Force for further investigation.
He added that troops also apprehended 138 suspects, rescued 46 kidnapped hostages, and recovered 104 assorted arms and 2,639 rounds of ammunition during the week. The recovered arms and ammunition included AK-47 rifles, locally fabricated guns, Dane guns, pump-action guns, various rounds of ammunition, cartridges, and other assorted weapons.
In the North-East, under Operation Hadin Kai, Kangye reported that 65 terrorists surrendered, comprising 12 adult males, 19 adult females, and 34 children. Additionally, troops neutralised 22 terrorists, arrested 13 others, and rescued 34 kidnapped hostages while also recovering a cache of arms and ammunition.
In the North-West, under Operation Fasan Yamma, troops neutralised 58 terrorists, arrested 11 others, and rescued 16 kidnapped hostages. In the North-Central region, under Operation Safe Haven, troops neutralised one violent extremist, apprehended 51 others, and rescued 11 kidnapped hostages. Under Operation Whirl Stroke, troops neutralised three violent extremists, arrested 14 others, and rescued 12 kidnapped hostages.
In the South-South, under Operation Delta Safe, troops sustained efforts against crude oil theft, destroying 42 illegal refining sites and multiple crude oil cooking ovens, dugout pits, boats, storage tanks, and drums. They recovered 497,152 litres of stolen crude oil, 142,000 litres of illegally refined diesel, and 4,075 litres of petrol, along with various vehicles, motorcycles, tricycles, and other equipment.
DHQ reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining security across the country and combating criminal activities through ongoing military operations.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has commemorated the 15th anniversary of the release of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, reaffirming its commitment to restoring the environment and improving the livelihoods of affected communities.
In a statement signed by the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, to commemorate the anniversary, HYPREP described the anniversary as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s environmental restoration efforts, noting that the project has made remarkable progress in implementing the recommendations of the landmark UNEP report released on August 4, 2011.
The UNEP report had revealed extensive oil pollution across Ogoniland, severe environmental degradation, and serious public health risks resulting from decades of petroleum operations. It also recommended an initial $1 billion fund to commence the cleanup of the affected communities.
According to HYPREP, the Federal Government formally launched the Ogoni clean-up in 2016, while the Project Coordination Office was established in 2017 to drive the implementation of UNEP’s recommendations.
Zabbey said the current administration has continued to prioritise the project under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Providing an update on the cleanup, the Project Coordinator disclosed that 30 of the 65 contaminated sites identified by UNEP have been fully remediated, while work is ongoing at several medium- and high-risk locations. It also stated that more than 1.5 million mangrove seedlings have been planted as part of what it described as the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves, with over 1,000 hectares of shoreline already rehabilitated.
Zabbey further revealed that 49 Ogoni communities have been connected to potable water schemes through multiple water projects and booster stations aimed at providing safe drinking water across the region.
In the health sector, he said the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital in Kpite and the 43-bed Cottage Hospital in Buan are nearing completion, adding that several existing health facilities have been upgraded with modern medical equipment, while five ambulances have been donated to improve emergency healthcare services. The Project Coordinator also disclosed that a three-year human health biomonitoring study is being conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
On economic empowerment, Zabbey stated that the Project has created more than 8,000 direct jobs and trained thousands of Ogoni youths and women in various vocational and technical skills, including software development, cybersecurity, aviation, commercial diving, seafaring, mechatronics, and creative arts. The project also reported awarding scholarships to more than 1,000 students, providing grants to small businesses, and supporting persons living with special needs through skills acquisition programmes.
The statement further highlighted ongoing legacy projects, including the Ogoni Power Project and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, which it said is about 96 per cent complete. HYPREP also welcomed the recent designation of the Ogoni Wetland as a Ramsar Site of International Importance and pledged to continue promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of the ecosystem.
Marking the anniversary, Zabbey said the progress achieved over the past 15 years demonstrates the collective commitment of government, development partners, stakeholders, and local communities to restoring Ogoniland. He called for renewed collaboration to sustain the cleanup effort, promote environmental sustainability, and support the long-term development of the region. 3