TVCE (ABUJA) – The Federal Government has launched a special military operation code-named operation AWATSU against pipeline vandals in the country, Defence Spokesperson has said.
Addressing Journalist on Friday, acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said the operatives also seized 50 vehicles belonging to the vandals in the ongoing operation in Lagos.
Defence spokes person said Army also arrested 25 members of the gang of vandals operating at the Arepo in Ogun State and parts of Lagos State.
It would be recalled that the military had last year took a decision after a meeting between the leadership of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation to maintain a presence at the Arepo area following the killing of four policemen and 11 officials of the Department of State Services by suspected vandals.
Abubakar said that the arrests and the seizures made by the military were responsible for the recent call by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, for the establishment of special courts to try vandals in the country.
He also stressed that the military had done adequate deployment to ensure the protection of the nation’s pipelines in the country.
Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar urged the people of the host communities to the pipelines to cooperate with security operatives in protecting them.
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