How NAF MI-35P helicopter crashed during operations in PH
Troops neutralise 52 terrorists
BY ANDREW OROLUA
The military on Friday, December 1, 2023 lost a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) MI-35P helicopter to a crash in an operation against economic saboteurs at about 7.45am in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba who disclosed this in Abuja said the incident took place in Port Harcourt shortly after the aircraft took off to embark on its operations.
According to him, “the entire crew of 5 survived the crash with very minor injuries. They are responding to treatment at NAF Medical Centre Port Harcourt. Nevertheless, the incident would be investigated and the outcome communicated”, he added.
Meanwhile, military operations this week resulted in the neutralization of 52 terrorists and the arrest of 204 others. Troops also arrested 58 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 234 kidnapped hostages.
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In the South South zone, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of six hundred and sixty eight million seven hundred thirty one thousand naira (N668,731,000.00) only.
The troops recovered 46 assorted weapons and 148 assorted ammunition including 30 AK47 rifles, 2 Josef magnum pump action gun, one double barrel gun, 2 single barrel guns, 12 locally made pistols, 13 dane guns, one hand grenade, 9 locally made rifles, 3 RPG chargers, 2 locally made hand grenades.
Other weapons and ammunition recovered from the terrorists are: 120 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 364 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 54 live cartridges, 11 rounds of empty cases of 7.62mm special ammo, 32 magazines, 34 vehicles, 64 mobile phones, 47 motorcycles and sum of N1,582,690.00 amongst other items.
Troops in the Niger Delta area destroyed 7 dugout pits, 25 boats, 47 storage tanks, 5 vehicles, 141 cooking ovens, one pumping machine, one outboard engine, one tricycle, one speedboat, one tugboat and 51 illegal refining sites. Troops also recovered 267,700 litres of stolen crude oil, 567,700 litres of illegally refined AGO and 5,000 litres of DPK.
Significantly, a total of 91 BH/ISWAP terrorists comprising 13 adult males, 35 adult females and 43 children surrendered to troops in North East between November 22 and 28, 2023.
Major General Buba said the leadership of terrorists groups remain the prime targets of ongoing operations and that the armed forces remains committed to destroying the terrorists, insurgents and violent extremist groups in the country.
