Nigerian Army troops arrested 47 suspected criminals, rescued several kidnapped victims and killed a suspected terrorist in nationwide operations in the last 24 hours.

The troops also recovered suspected stolen and rustled livestock, detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) and disrupted criminal activities across Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Plateau, Anambra, Imo and Kaduna states.

An operational report released on Saturday said troops of Operation MESA arrested the 47 suspects during a raid in Nasarawa State.

The report said troops of the 177 Guards Battalion, in conjunction with the State Security Service (SSS), police, and a civilian joint task force, raided suspected criminal hideouts at Tipper Garage and Gidan Drama in Karu Local Government Area of the state.

It said the troops recovered two motorcycles, an unspecified quantity of suspected cannabis, 32 mobile phones, a laptop and charger, four wristwatches, five power banks and an ATM card.

According to the report, the troops handed over the suspects and recovered items to the police division in Karu for further investigation.

In Zamfara, the report said the troops of Operation Fansan Yamma rescued three civilians who sustained gunshot wounds after engaging terrorists along the Dampo-Rumba Road in Bakura Local Government Area.

It added that the victims were evacuated to the General Hospital in Bakura for medical attention.

According to the report, troops responding to a kidnapping incident along the Dandume-Damari Road in Katsina also engaged the terrorists, forcing them to abandon their victims and flee.

“The troops recovered one vehicle during the operation.

“Similarly, troops responding to terrorist activities along the Isa-Girnashe Road in Sokoto rescued two kidnapped victims after engaging the terrorists.

“One of the victims, however, was confirmed dead from gunshot wounds.

“The troops also intercepted five trucks conveying 117 cows, two donkeys, one goat and five cow skins suspected to have been stolen at Magami in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara.

“The recovered livestock were handed over to the Chairman, Committee on Recovery of Rustled Cattle, Gusau, for further action.

“In another operation in Tsafe, Zamfara, troops intercepted a suspected stolen vehicle with the support of the National Security Adviser’s tracking team.

“The driver reportedly abandoned the vehicle and fled after being intercepted, while the vehicle was recovered to the unit headquarters for further action,” it said.

In Niger, the report revealed that troops of Operation Savannah Shield discovered and safely detonated an IED along the Dekara-Gewazi Road in Borgu Local Government Area.

It added that troops of Operation Enduring Peace neutralised a suspected terrorist during an offensive operation at Ungwan Nungu in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna.

The report further revealed that troops engaged the suspects, killing one while others fled the scene.

“At Yangwari Market in Mangu Local Government Area, troops intervened after unidentified gunmen opened fire on a vehicle conveying passengers and foodstuffs.

“Eight passengers who sustained gunshot wounds were evacuated to Allah-na-Kowa Hospital, where three were confirmed dead while others received treatment,” it added.

In the South-East, the report said the troops of Operation Udo Ka arrested suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) during offensive operations along the Azia-Uli-Okija axis.

It added that three suspects were apprehended while attempting to escape through Orsu-Ihiteukwa in Imo, but one was killed while trying to evade arrest.

According to the report, the remaining suspects were handed over to the SSS for further action.

“Troops also arrested two suspected IPOB/ESN members at Azia, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra, following intelligence linking them with the group’s activities.

“The suspects reportedly confessed to delivering items to terrorists on two occasions and remained in military custody for further action.

“In Imo, troops conducting anti-illegal bunkering operations discovered an illegal refining site containing about 720 litres of illegally refined crude oil and 41 cooking drums at Egbema.

“All recovered items were handled in line with extant regulations,” it said. 

(NAN)

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has acknowledged the financial strain caused by the recent increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.

The authority said it is aware of the impact of the price increase on households, transport workers and businesses across the country.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the NMDPRA said it remains committed to ensuring that consumers are protected within the framework of Nigeria’s deregulated petroleum market.

“We are fully sensitive to the pressure this places on households, transport workers, and businesses across the country, and we share in the commitment to seeing relief take root as market conditions stabilise,” the authority said.

The statement comes as petrol prices have risen above N1,400 per litre in several parts of the country.

Nigeria exposed to global oil shock

The latest increase followed an N85 adjustment in the gantry price of petrol by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, from N1,265 to N1,350 per litre, amid a surge in international crude oil prices.

A survey of filling stations in Abuja on Saturday morning showed significant variations in pump prices, with some outlets selling petrol for between N1,400 and N1,450 per litre.

This compares with prices of about N1,200 to N1,300 per litre recorded at several outlets in the previous month.

The latest increase came after a period of easing in petrol prices following expectations that the conflict in the Middle East would de-escalate and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would ease.

Although Nigeria is a major crude oil producer, the country remains exposed to developments in the international oil market.

Changes in global crude prices can affect the domestic petroleum market through the cost of crude feedstock, refined products, freight and other supply-chain expenses.

The increase in Dangote Refinery’s wholesale petrol price has consequently translated into higher prices at filling stations.

Brent crude, the international benchmark relevant to Nigeria’s oil market, closed at $104.87 per barrel on Friday, according to Reuters.

The disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has become a major concern for global energy markets because the waterway is a critical route for crude oil and refined-product shipments.

For Nigeria, developments in the international oil market can feed into the cost of transportation, logistics, electricity generation and other economic activities dependent on petroleum products.

‘We don’t fix petrol prices’

The NMDPRA said its role in the downstream petroleum sector is governed by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

It said Section 205(1) of the Act provides that wholesale and retail prices of petroleum products shall be based on unrestricted free-market pricing conditions.

“The Authority does not fix pump prices or issue administrative price templates,” it said.

According to the authority, Sections 205(2)-(4) restrict government intervention in petroleum-product pricing to exceptional circumstances where there is formal evidence of a declared market failure.

“No such market failure has been declared,” the authority said.

It added that Section 216 of the PIA empowers it to prevent anti-competitive practices, price-fixing and abuse of market dominance.

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The authority also said it was working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies to strengthen surveillance along border corridors.

The move, it said, is aimed at improving supply stability and curbing the illegal cross-border diversion of petroleum products.

The NMDPRA stressed that deregulation does not exempt petroleum operators from regulatory compliance or fair-trade standards.

It said it was working with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) under a formal memorandum of understanding to monitor the market.

The agencies are jointly monitoring for alleged price-gouging, collusion, under-dispensing and compromised product quality, the NMDPRA said.

The authority also said it was opening dedicated feedback and reporting channels through which members of the public and industry stakeholders can report irregular pricing and exploitative trade practices for investigation and enforcement.

The NMDPRA said it remained committed to its statutory mandate of ensuring energy security, promoting fair competition and protecting consumers within the legal framework of the PIA.