Troops of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army have dismantled 15 illegal refineries, arrested 10 suspects, and recovered 115,000 stolen litres of petroleum products in their ongoing operations to clear the Niger Delta region of economic sabotage.
A statement signed on Sunday, October 6, by the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma said the troops also dismantled over 30 cooking pots and intercepted eleven vehicles and many boats during the operations.
In Rivers State, Danjuma explained that following a tip-off on oil theft around SIAT Farm, Elele in Ikwerre Local Government Area (LGA), troops mobilised to the scene and intercepted a truck with Reg No GDD 831 ZN Anambra loaded with about 40,000 litres of stolen crude.
“Similarly, at Sankri in Okrika LGA, the operations led to the deactivation of three illegal refining sites, the destruction of two wooden boats with over 26,500 litres of stolen products recovered.
“This feat was also recorded at Dapama in Bille general area, Degema LGA, where over four illegal refining sites were taken out, two wooden boats stocked with over 10,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 6,000 litres of stolen crude intercepted”.
Danjuma said at the stretch of the Imo Riverside, troops identified and destroyed several illegal refining sites, and makeshift structures in camps, with one big pot and over 30 cooking drum pots dismantled.
“Others are the destruction of 4 wooden boats, one fibre boat, and over 15,000 litres of stolen crude around Okoloma, Obuzor, and Ukwa Creeks which were handled appropriately in line with a subsisting mandate”, he said.
Danjuma said at Freedom Kula in Akuku-Toru LGA, troops discovered a pipeline vandalism site, where three gas cylinders were recovered.
“Further exploitation in the area, led to the arrest of one suspect. At Ebocha, OB II and Obiafu Ndoni, four suspects were arrested with over 4,000 litres of stolen condensates in a Toyota Camry with Reg No ZKW 648 AA Kaduna and a tricycle at Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema LGA.
“While at Omoku, 5 inactive illegal refining sites with several empty metal drums were destroyed, with 2 suspects arrested at Orashi River with reasonable quantities of stolen condensates”, he said.
He said that in Bayelsa State around Sabasuo general area in Nembe LGA, active illegal refining sites were deactivated with over 2,800 litres of stolen product recovered.
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“At Amalakiri in Southern Ijaw, one active illegal refining site was taken out with over 2,500 stolen products recovered. Troops also intercepted a wooden boat ladened with over 1,800 litres of stolen AGO in sacks around Idewa/Waribokiri general area in Ogbia LGA”, he said.
Danjuma noted that In Delta State, a trailer with Reg No JJN 167 ZU Plateau was intercepted siphoning crude from the Nigerian Petrolatum Development Company Oil pipeline at Ozoro in Isioko North LGA.
He said two persons had been arrested in connection to the crime adding that many other vehicles loaded with stolen products were intercepted at Obi Anyima Community in Ika South LGA and Ugo Community in Orhiomwon Edo State in follow-up operations conducted.
Explaining the situation in Akwa Ibom, he said: “Akwa Ibom State recorded some measure of success, as troops acting on credible intelligence intercepted 3 drums of premium motor spirit, at the fringes of Oron waterways.
“The products were suspected to have been prepared for smuggling to a neighbouring country. Troops have also continued to maintain vigilance in the ongoing anti-bunkering operations in the state to deny economic saboteurs and their collaborators freedom of action”.