The joint military operation deployed to the Niger Delta, codenamed: “Operation Pulo Shield,” has apprehended three suspected militants and pipeline vandals.
Major General Alani Okunlola, the Commander of the military outfit, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Yenagoa on Friday that the arrest followed intensified raids and patrols.
Okunlola explained that the raid, carried out on December 6, led to recovery of a cache of arms and ammunition by troops deployed to patrol Benin River and adjourning creeks in Itagbene, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.
He said: “The three suspects were arrested.
“The recovered items included one Light Machine Gun, five AK-47 rifles, One G3 rifle and one LAR rifle.
“Others were 20 AK-47 magazines, two LAR rifle magazines and 415 rounds of 7.62 mm x 39 mm special ammunition, 229 x 7.62 NATO ammunition, 273 rounds of 5.65 ammunition, 10 dynamites and bundles of two detonating cords.
“The recovery of the arms and ammunition is as a result of the raids on suspected militants camps.
“The operation is a continuous one aimed at recovering all illegally acquired arms that have found their way into the Niger Delta region.”
Okunlola gave the assurance that the suspects, currently in the custody of Operation Pulo Shield, would be handed over to the prosecuting agencies after preliminary investigations.
The commander solicited the support of Niger Delta people for the campaign against oil theft and sundry crimes in the region by providing useful information to aid the troops in tracking miscreants in the area.
NAN.