Troops Apprehend Suspected Chinese Illegal Miner, Five Terrorists’ Logistics Suppliers, Collaborators in Borno, Yobe
.Recovered 121,035 litres of stolen crude oil, dismantled 25 cooking ovens, others in N’Delta
Linus Aleke in Abuja
The Nigerian Military yesterday said that troops of Joint Task Force, North-east, Operation Hadin Kai, have apprehended a suspected Chinese national involved in illegal mining activities during coordinated operations in Kukawa and Ngala local government areas of Borno State, as well as Gaidam Local Government Area of Yobe State.
The military high command also stressed that the operation, which was conducted between 5th and 7th June 2025, led to the arrest of no fewer than five suspected terrorists’ logistics suppliers and collaborators.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, made this revelation in Abuja yesterday during a biweekly briefing on operational activities of troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria across all operational theatres.
He further disclosed that the weapons and ammunition recovered from the terrorists and their collaborators, as well as their camps and equipment, were burnt in situ.
General Kangye also noted that scores of ISWAP/JAS terrorists, comprising adult males and females, as well as children, surrendered to troops as operational tempo heightened during the week.
He stated that troops of the Joint Task Force, South-south, Operation Delta Safe, discovered and dismantled 25 crude oil cooking ovens, 32 dugout pits, 19 boats, 40 storage tanks, 28 drums, and 21 illegal refining sites.
Responding to questions on the arrested Chinese national allegedly involved in illegal mining activities, the Director said: “Illegality is illegality. There are so many illegal miners all over Nigeria. Anyone caught, like criminals, always denies involvement in the crime. But the question is, what took the Chinese miner to the military operational areas during an operation at the time of the arrest?
“So, the Chinese national has been detained and is undergoing interrogation. When the interrogation is completed, we will furnish the press with the details of why he was there in the first place, how he was arrested, whether he was the only one there or had accomplices. All these will be unfolded after a comprehensive investigation into the matter.”
When asked about his migration status, General Kangye responded thus: “First and foremost, before you come into Nigeria or before a Nigerian goes to any country, there are documents that one must possess to enjoy the status of a legal migrant. So, if a person has the requisite travel documents, they are free to be in Nigeria for the period allowed by their visa. But if, within that period, they decide to go against the law of the land, of course, they will be arrested, interrogated, tried, and if found guilty, the law will take its full course.”
Speaking earlier on the operational tempo of troops of Operation Delta Safe against crude oil thieves and other criminals in the Niger Delta during the week under review, Kangye revealed that the troops recovered 121,035 litres of stolen crude oil, 19,650 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 7,140 litres of DPK.
Other items recovered, he said, included outbound engines, pipes, pumping machines, drilling machines, horses, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones, and nine vehicles.
“Furthermore, 23 oil thieves and other criminals were arrested, while assorted arms and ammunition were also recovered. Troops, while on anti-kidnapping and anti-criminality operations, responded to information about criminal activities in Okigwe and Aniocha LGAs of Imo and Delta states. During the operations, two criminals were arrested, while a kidnapped victim was rescued. They recovered some weapons and ammunition, as well as mobile phones and motorcycles from them.
“Similarly, between 6-10 June 2025, troops, acting on a tip-off, arrested nine suspected vandals/criminals in Okirika, Etche, and Akuku-Toru LGAs of Rivers, as well as Ogbia and Aniocha North LGAs of Bayelsa and Delta State, respectively,” he concluded.
