Troops of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other sister agencies, in a series of simultaneous operations destroyed 115 bunkering sites in the Niger Delta region, arrested 22 suspected oil thieves, confiscating 66 boats used for nefarious activities.
The feats were announced in a statement signed by the Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma on Sunday.
According to Lt. Col. Danjuma the troops in an operations around the swampy Ibidi general area, Twon Brass, and Agip Terminal in Brass Local Government Area in Bayelsa state, one illegal refining site, a generator, a pumping machine, a reservoir and one large wooden boat containing over 90,000 liters of stolen illegally refined products were intercepted.
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He added that in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, the troops deactivated two illegal refining sites and confiscated over 2000 products around Igbomotoru, two illegal refining sites and confiscated over 2500 litres of stolen crude around Opotoma and Isinugbene.
Danjuma further disclosed that four illegal refining sites, two wooden boats, and pumping machines were confiscated with over 2500 litres of stolen crude around Oyenegbene, noting that another illegal artisanal refinery was confiscated with over 5,000 liters of stolen crude at Okarki forest.
The Army Public Relations Acting Deputy Director stated that the operations also resulted in the recovery of 27 stolen pipes, four pumping machines, engendering the repairs of compressed pipelines and confiscating over 170,000 liters of stolen products.
He explained that in Rivers State, the operatives destroyed 79 illegal refining sites and 59 wooden boats at Imo River, recovering over 40,000 liters of stolen products.
Danjuma noted that another three illegal refining sites at Ebocha oil field, with products estimated to be over 3,000 litres were confiscated, while four illegal refining sites were busted at Krakarma and Bille general area, arresting six suspected oil thieves, adding seven illegal refining sites were uncovered at Ogbogolo forest, with over 2000 litres of stolen products handled.
He disclosed that the military also apprehended another four suspects with a wooden boat laden with stolen installation pipes at Cawthorne Channel II flow station, as two more suspects conveying 27 suspected vandalized NAOC pipes in a pickup truck were rounded up.
Lt. Col. said the troops identified and clamped several illegal connection points at Odagwa community in Rivers, recovering over 2000 litres of stolen crude.
In Delta State, the troops intercepted a wooden boat with over 40 sacks of illegally refined products at Asaba Asa Community jetty, destroying one illegal refining site and recovering over 2700 litres of stolen products.
For Akwa Ibom State, the troops continued to dominate the waterways and hinterland, denying criminal elements the freedom of action.
Danjuma emphasized that all the arrested suspects have been handed over to the appropriate security agency for prosecution, while the confiscated products have been handled appropriately.
Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, has urged the troops not to relent in their efforts to clamp down on illegal artisanal refinery activities and associated crimes in the Niger Delta Region.
Maj. Gen. Abdussalam, emphasised the need for zero tolerance, charging the troops to take decisive action against those engaging in these illicit activities.
He also appealed to critical stakeholders, particularly communities where these illegal activities thrive, to join forces with the military in combating the menace.
