The Armed Forces of Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding the country’s critical national infrastructure, warning that they will not stand by while individuals or groups attempt to sabotage these vital assets.
This declaration was made by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday. His remarks followed a series of recent explosions targeting crude oil pipelines in Rivers State.
Kangye emphasized that the military has remained steadfast in its duty to protect oil installations across the Niger Delta, with field commanders actively monitoring and responding to threats.
“The field commanders are fully aware of developments on the ground. They will thoroughly investigate these incidents and present their findings. Until then, it would be premature to speculate on the causes or outcomes of their inquiries,” Kangye stated.
He assured that the military would take decisive action against any individuals attempting to destroy the nation’s vital infrastructure.
“Our troops are deployed to protect these critical assets, and we will not allow criminal elements to jeopardize national interests,” he added.
Providing an update on recent military operations, Kangye revealed that troops of Operation Delta Safe had, within the past week, successfully intercepted and prevented oil theft valued at approximately N461.7 million in the South-South region.
In addition, security forces recovered 247,629 litres of stolen crude oil and 198,374 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) during the operations, further demonstrating the military’s ongoing efforts to combat economic sabotage in the region.
