The Nigerian Army has apprehended at least 15 individuals suspected of involvement in oil theft and illegal oil bunkering activities in the Niger Delta.
Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Danjuma, spokesperson for the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division in Port Harcourt, confirmed in a statement on Monday that the operations were carried out across Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states.
Between January 6 and 12, troops dismantled 32 artisanal refineries, seized 14 boats, and confiscated approximately 60,000 litres of petroleum products during the operations.
The operations are part of a coordinated effort by the army and other security agencies to curb the rampant oil theft in the region.
The operation began in Bille, Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State, where seven illegal refining sites were destroyed, along with the confiscation of 20,000 litres of crude oil and the destruction of two boats used in the illicit activities.
“We also deactivated 10 illegal refineries, several crude oil cooking pots, and receivers and recovered about 19,000 litres of stolen petroleum products along the Imo River.
“In Odagwa, Etche, our troops intercepted three boats carrying about 12,000 litres of stolen crude oil and arrested three suspects in the process.
“Similar operations were carried out in Abiama, Asa, Obuzor, Okoloma, Ozaa, Ukwa, and Oyigbo,” he added.
He stated that the soldiers advanced to Nkisa in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers, where they confiscated 1,600 litres of crude oil and 1,200 litres of adulterated diesel.
Mr Danjuma said that along Ndoni Road, the troops intercepted a Toyota van transporting an estimated 1,200 litres of stolen condensate.
The spokesperson said that in Buguma, Asari-Toru, Rivers, the troops dismantled two illegal refineries, seized 1,500 litres of stolen crude oil, and apprehended five suspects.
“In Baberegbene, Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State, our soldiers dismantled an illegal artisanal refinery and intercepted a wooden boat carrying no fewer than 1,500 litres of stolen crude oil.
“Similarly, an illegal refining site containing an unquantified quantity of stolen petroleum products was deactivated in Emago-Kugbo and Oluasiri communities in Nembe, Bayelsa.
“The operations continued in Akwa Ibom and Delta, where troops maintained a strong presence and effectively denied economic saboteurs the liberty to operate,” he said.
(NAN)
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