The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said troops of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) destroyed 53 illegal refineries and arrested 81 oil thieves and other criminals in January.
The Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, yesterday.
Onoja said the troops also recovered assorted arms and ammunition, and destroyed a large-sized barge siphoning petroleum products.
According to him, troops foiled the theft of 210,300 litres of crude oil, 66,725 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 660 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosine, and 5,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit during the month.
Giving an update on operations in the Southeast, the Defence spokesperson said the crime rate has “drastically reduced” in the region compared to past crime occurrences.
According to him, in January, troops of Operation Udo Ka neutralized some terrorists, arrested 22 others, and rescued eleven 11 kidnap victims.
“Arms and ammunition were recovered from them, and recovered weapons are in the troops’ custody for further action.
“It is worthy to note that 80 militants recently surrendered to troops, while eight Cameroonian nationals were also rescued during cross-border patrol along Bakassi waterways,” he said.
The Defence spokesperson said the Armed Forces would continue to adapt, innovate, and respond decisively to evolving security threats.
“With the continued cooperation of citizens and stakeholders, we are confident of achieving lasting peace and stability,” he said.
Troops of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), a military offensive against oil theft and economic saboteurs in the Southsouth, destroyed 20 illegal refining sites and arrested 32 oil thieves and other criminals, during operations conducted between January 1 and 15.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen Michael Onoja, made this known while giving an update on the military’s successes against terrorists and other non-state actors over the past week.
He said the troops also recovered assorted arms and ammunition.
The military high command stated that troops of Operation Udo in the Southeast, rescued eight Cameroon nationals earlier kidnapped by sea pirates at Ikang waterways in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State.
It said three criminals were arrested in Ogburu Local Government Area of Anambra State.
“Similarly, about 80 militants presented themselves to troops with their arms and ammunition for amnesty at Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State.
“The militants were reported to belong to two camps headed by Thankgod Ebikontei (aka Ayibanuagha) Camp and John Isaac (aka Akpokolo) militant fighters camp,” the DHQ added.
The troops killed scores of terrorists and arrested 67 criminals.
According to Gen. Onoja, troops, in synergy with other security agencies, have continued to carry out operations against terrorists and other non-state actors. Despite the insecurity, the troops have remained resolute and resilient, recording notable successes through precision strikes, clearance operations, and sustained patrols.
The troops also rescued 21 kidpa-victims.
In the Northeast under Operation Hadin Kai, the Defence spokesperson said troops killed scores of terrorists, arrested seven others, and rescued four kidnap victims during their operations in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states between January 19 and 23.
In the Northwest zone, he said Operation Fansan Yamma troops killed many terrorists, arrested 10 others, and rescued seven kidnap victims during operations in Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, and Zamfara states between January 19 and 23.
Some of the operations were conducted in Maru, Anka, Kaura Namoda, Bungudu, Tsafe, Talata Mafara and Birnin Magaji local government areas of Zamfara State; Batsari and Kankara local government areas of Katsina State; Tangaza and Wurno local government areas of Sokoto State; Giwa and Birnin Gwari local government areas of Kaduna State.
Gen Onoja said troops of Operation Endurance Peace and Operation Whirl Stroke, in the Northcentral also achieved feats in the past week.
According to him, troops of Operation Enduring Peace in Plateau State killed many terrorists during firefights in Bokkos, Bassa, Jos North, Jos South, Riyom, Mangu, Barkin Ladi and Wase local governments of Plateau State, between January 19 to 23.
He said the troops also arrested 39 criminals and rescued four kidnap victims, while recovering a large cache of illicit weapons and $4,500 from a suspect, believed to be proceeds from the sale of rustled cattle.
The Defence spokesperson said troops of Operation Whirl Stroke arrested 11 suspected kidnappers and rescued six victims, adding that arms, ammunition, motorcycles, and other items were also recovered from the suspects.
He said the operations were conducted between January 19 and 23, in Donga, Takum, Wukari, Sardauna and Kurmi local governments of Taraba State as well as Guma, Otukpo, Katsina Ala, Ukum and Apa local governments of Benue State.
“Similarly, they responded to distress calls on kidnapping activities in Yagba West, Lokoja and Kabba Bunu local governments of Kogi State as well as Ifelodun and Ekiti local governments of Kwara State. Others are Obi and Doma local governments of Nasarawa State as well as Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT,” he said.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft destroyed over 100 illegal refining sites, 53 boats, 74 cooking tanks, and several transport vehicles in a five-month operation in the Niger Delta.
The feat was achieved through 173 missions and 265 sorties, totaling approximately 270 flying hours in support of Operation Delta Safe.
NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, announced this in a statement on Sunday.
He said the joint military operations and independent strikes across was conducted along key oil-producing states including Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River.
According to Ejodame, the NAF actions significantly degraded the capacity of oil thieves and vandals operating along critical corridors such as Buguma, Imo River, Port Harcourt, Okrika, Egbema/Ohaji, and the Trans Niger Pipeline Right of Way.
“The operations are aligned with national efforts to curb militancy, stop environmental degradation caused by illegal refining, and protect strategic oil and gas infrastructure, the backbone of Nigeria’s economy,” he said.
The NAF assured continued civil-military cooperation and community development in the region, while emphasizing the importance of kinetic operations to dismantle entrenched criminal networks.
Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in partnership with other security agencies have destroyed 19 illegal refineries in multiple operations against oil theft in the Niger Delta.
The troops also arrested 20 suspected oil thieves and seized over 589,000 litres of stolen products during the operations.
Confirming the development, the Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said the operations conducted by the troops in Rivers State, around Okolomade, Orashi and Ozochi Forests in Abua/Odual Local Government Area uncovered many illegal refining sites.
He said the troops discovered eight cooking ovens and massive storage facilities filled with over 300,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO), over 250,000 litres of stolen crude oil, seven reservoirs, six receivers and a generator.
Danjuma said at the fringes of the Imo River, nine illegal refining sites were taken out, with 23 drum pots, ten drum receivers, 321 sacks and over 16,000 litres of stolen products handled in consonance with operational mandate.
He said the troops also projected operations into Ndoni at Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema LGA, where 245 sacks filled with 12,500 litres of illegally refined AGO were recovered.
He said similar operations were conducted around Ogbonga Forest in Bonny LGA, where troops apprehended a suspected oil thief with a fibre hand pulled boat and a 400 meters hose, evidently stained with crude oil, four spanners, a Tecno T353 mobile phone amongst many other items recovered.
Danjuma said in Delta State, troops uncovered an illegal refining site at Jeddo in Okpe LGA, where over 1,000 litres of stolen products stored in polythene bags were recovered adding that at Ogbu Aladja in Warri South LGA, troops deactivated a number of illegal refining sites and recovered many sacks filled with unquantified illegally refined AGO.
Danjuma said, “In Bayelsa State, troops dismantled an illegal refining site around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA, with four cooking ovens, drums and receivers destroyed, as well as several litres of stolen products confiscated.
“While, in Akwa Ibom State, troops have dominated both the land, waterways and the Creeks, effectively denying economic saboteurs and associated criminals freedom of action.
“The apprehended oil thieves were handed over to the appropriate agency for prosecution, while products confiscated have been handled in line with the extant operational mandate.”
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says the troops of Operation Delta Safe have in the last one week discovered and deactivated no fewer than 42 illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, made this known in a weekly report of ongoing military operations on Thursday in Abuja.
Kangye said the military had sustained operational tempo against crude oil thieves and other criminals in the Niger Delta during the week under review.
He said the troops recovered 117,395 litres of stolen crude oil, 22,050 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil , 6,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene and 8,060 litres of Premium Motor Spirit .
He added that troops also discovered and destroyed 102 crude oil cooking ovens, 94 dugout pits, 18 boats, four speedboats, 56 storage tanks and 164 drums.
According to him, other items recovered include, pumping machines, drilling machines, galvanised pipes, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones and nine vehicles.
“Furthermore, 42 oil thieves and other criminals were arrested while assorted arms and ammunition were also recovered.
“Between April 10 and April 14, troops while conducting offensive operations, made contact with criminals in Southern Ijaw and Aniocha South Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Bayelsa and Delta respectively.
“During the operations, troops arrested criminals and recovered arms and ammunition as well as large quantities of natural gas resources.
“Similarly, on April 11 and April 13, troops, acting on credible intelligence, arrested nine suspected vandals/kidnappers in Onelga and Ndoni local governments areas of Rivers as well as Uvwie, Warri South and Aniocha South local government areas of Delta.
“They also effected the arrest of five criminals in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River as well as Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa,” he said.
Troops of 6 Division Nigerian Army have destroyed 19 illegal refineries, arrested 12 suspected oil thieves and seized 138,000 litres of stolen products in the Niger Delta region.
The Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt Col Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, confirmed the development and said several intelligence-led operations were conducted in Rivers State.
He said the operations led to the interception of a tanker laden with 60,000 litres of stolen crude around Apajo – Iwoji – Iwofe road in Obio Akpor Local Government Area (LGA).
Danjuma said the driver fled and abandoned the truck on sighting the troops, adding that a search was conducted on the truck, which led to the recovery of multiple plate numbers.
He said a clearance operations were conducted at the fringes of the Imo River, which resulted in the deactivation of numerous artisanal refineries, 64 drum pots and 15 drum receivers with over 4,500 litres of stolen products recovered.
Danjuma said while at Kumufari Creek in Degema LGA, troops discovered an abandoned oven, with 40 sacks filled with over 1,200 litres of stolen crude.
“Additionally, at Okotokolomabia/Okoloma Lounge area in Bonny Island LGA, troops raided a site, where suspected oil thieves fled and abandoned their equipment. At the site, various items were recovered, including a 6 KVA generator, one wielding machine, 5 drilling machines, 2 drilling cups, 38 bolts and nuts amongst several other items”, he said.
Danjuma said the troops raided seven illegal bunkering camps around Joinkrama 4 and Biseni in Ahoada West and Yenagoa LGAs of Rivers and Bayelsa states.
He said during the raid,, illegal refining sites were destroyed with over 25,000 litres of stolen crude and 850 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil recovered.
He named other items recovered as two wheelbarrows and a wooden boat adding that over 1,550 litres of stolen crude in cellophane bags on the waterways were seized.
He said in Delta State, around Masogar in Ethiope West LGA, an illegal bunkering open truck, with an inbuilt iron tank with registration number Edo Ekp 83 XB was intercepted along NNPC/Chevron/Seplat pipeline,
He said the truck was loaded with over 20,000 litres of stolen crude, with another truck positioned behind it, waiting to be loaded with stolen products.
Danjuma said in Akwa Ibom State, along the Iko – Okorete Communities road in Eastern Obolo LGA, a Toyota Avalon with Registration Number Lagos LSR 796 FD loaded with over 1,620 litres of stolen products in 54 cellophane bags was intercepted.
“The two occupants of the vehicle were arrested. All the suspects have been handed over to the appropriate agencies for prosecution, while items and products confiscated were handled in accordance with the existing operational mandate”, he said.
Troops of 6 Division of the Nigeria Army have destroyed 23 illegal refineries, 14 boats and arrested 25 oil thieves, including four suspected members of the proscribed Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) in Delta State.
The troops also recovered over 45,000 litres of stolen products during joint operations with other security agencies.
Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said in Rivers State that a truck conveying over 15,000 litres of stolen products, on the East-West Road by Tank-to-Eneka in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area (LGA) was seized.
He said around Karakarma in Degema LGA, troops deactivated seven illegal refining sites, impounded four fibre boats and recovered over 12,000 litres of stolen products.
Danjuma said around Bille also in Degema LGA, two illegal refining sites, three receivers, three pots of different sizes stocked with over 2,400 stolen products were handled.
He said the troops also made inroads into the Imo riverside, where 13 illegal refining sites, 25 drum pots, 24 receivers and six metal containers were destroyed with over 7,000 litres of stolen products recovered.
He said several empty gallons, four hollow pipes, motorcycles and a boat used for the heinous crime were taken out.
Danjuma said at Oga – Ama corridor in Buguma LGA, four boats and over 2,700 litres of stolen products were deactivated and recovered.
He said troops also arrested a suspected tug boat and a barge around Finima in Bonny LGA saying the barge was alleged to be carrying stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have dismantled 19 illegal refineries, confiscated 170,000 litres of stolen products and arrested many oil thieves, during their operations in various creeks of the Niger Delta.
The acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, who confirmed the development on Sunday said the troops also destroyed 21 boats used for economic sabotage.
Danjuma said in Rivers State, the troops intercepted a Cotonou boats, with one fully loaded with over 34,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) around Okarki in Ahoada West LGA.
He said at Ogbonga Forest in Bonny Island Local Government Area (LGA), the troops uncovered an illegal refining site with over 30,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
He noted that at Bakana/Buguma general area, in Degema and Asari-Toru LGAs, the soldiers discovered a big pot containing unquantified products suspected to be stolen crude.
He said in Okrika LGA, the troops discovered an illegal connection point with a valve on NNPC pipeline with about 2,000 meters of three inches hose connected to a storage pit containing over 20,000 litres of stolen crude.
“Three receivers, six locally made boats with 14,000 litres of stolen crude oil were confiscated. Similarly, around Amoha – Mgbede area, one illegal refining site, 16 locally made metal oven drums, 211 sacks ladened with over 13,000 litres of stolen crude, 20 sacks loaded with 1,200 litres of illegally refined AGO were recovered”, he said.
Danjuma said at Idu flow station in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, three suspected oil thieves were sighted at Oando pipeline, in the process of vandalizing the facility.
He said: “In an attempt to apprehended the criminals, one ran into the bush, while the other who attempt to escape was demobilised. Items recovered, include pliers, saw, hammer and fabricated F angle pipes used to compromise pipelines.
“At Kula in Akuku-Toru LGA, two suspected oil thieves were arrested in one wooden boat loaded with vandalised pipeline rails and cylinders, concealed with sacks of periwinkles. Suspects have been handed over to the National Security and Civil Defence Corps for prosecution.
“While, at the Imo River bunkering corridor, ten illegal refining sites, seven boats, 38 drum pots, 22 metal container receivers were destroyed with over 13,000 litres of products confiscated. This was in addition to a tanker truck fully loaded with stolen products, traced to an illegal connection point intercepted at Rukpoku general area”.
Danjuma said in Bayelsa State, at Kalabilema general area in Nembe, one illegal refining site with over 2,000 litres of illegally refined AGO was deactivated adding that around Igbomotoru Creek in Southern Ijaw, one illegal refining site and one wooden boat suspected to be used for oil theft was intercepted.
He said the division also conducted operations in Akwa Ibom State, around Enwang II, in Mbo LGA and that following credible intelligence, troops intercepted 43 drums loaded with 280 liters of premium motor spirit each, estimated to be 12,040 litres.
He said the products were being prepared for smuggling to a neighbouring country, when the troops frustrated the plot.
Danjuma said in Delta State, four suspected oil thieves were arrested at Koko in Warri LGA while conveying 35 drums of black oil estimated to be over 7,000 litres in a Mercedes Benz truck with Reg No BKH 660 XA Delta.
He said troops also responded to information on illegal oil bunkering activities at Ugbokodo area in Okpe, where they discovered several sacks ladened with over 2,000 litres of stolen crude.
He said: “At NNPC/PAN Ocean company pipeline, in Idemili Community, Ndokwa West LGA, troops discovered a compromised pipeline. The vandals were observed to have fixed a valve on the pipeline with further attempt to connect pipes for siphoning crude. They fled on sighting troops. Several items were recovered, including pipes, wielding cables, shovels rubber buckets and black leathers”.
…says mischief makers behind misrepresentation of its performance
The Nigerians Navy says it destroyed 1,528 illegal refineries, arrested 392 oil thieves, and seized over 8.1 million barrels of stolen crude in the past four years.
It said it also arrested 120 barges, 181 speed boats, 1,453 wooden boats laden with stolen products as well as 118 vehicles conveying stolen petroleum products.
The Navy’s Chief of Training and Operations (CTOPs), Rear Admiral Eugenio Olusegun Ferreira, announced this at a press briefing at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja, on Monday.
Rear Admiral Ferreira said some notable arrests were that of MT SWEET MIRI and MT VILLANIRIS 1 both laden with a combined quantity of 4 million litres of stolen crude oil.
He said: “Anti-oil theft operations remain the Navy’s most critical function due to the contribution of oil revenue to Nigeria’s economic survival. However, some unpatriotic elements are determined to plunder the country’s oil resources for personal gains through oil theft and other acts of economic sabotage.
“Over the years, the Nigerian Navy implemented measures to address the scourge of oil theft. These include intelligence-led patrols, robust Maritime Domain Awareness, and the Choke Point Management and Control regime involving the deployment of Naval Security Stations at strategic choke points within the creeks to deny oil thieves freedom of action.
“In view of its transnational nature, the fight against oil theft also involves collaboration with our neighbours such as Cameroon, Benin and Togo who assisted in the apprehension of vessels such as MT NEW ANGEL and MT JASMINE involved in crude oil theft.
“In November 2024, as part of its regional efforts to enhance maritime security, the Nigerian Navy hosted Exercises CROCODILE LIFT and GRAND AFRICAN NEMO which are multinational exercises involving Nigerian Navy Ships, boats, and aircraft as well as ships from regional navies and partners such as France, UK, and Spain. The exercises were geared toward enhancing our international partnership and collaboration to curb maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.
“The Nigerian Navy also has a transparent process of working with industry regulators such as NUPRC, NMDPRA, NIMASA, and NNPCL in the monitoring and enforcement of approvals granted to operators to lift crude oil and other refined products. This enables the Nigerian Navy to ensure compliance for legitimate upstream and downstream operations on behalf of the regulators. Nigerian Navy efforts have greatly curbed oil theft and led to a significant increase in Nigeria’s daily crude oil production output from 1.23 million barrels in October 2022 to 1.8 million barrels in October 2024 as revealed by the NUPRC.
“The positive outcome of the Nigerian Navy’s anti-crude oil operations is also evident in the Trans – Forcados and Trans-Niger pipelines which have continued to report about 100 percent terminal factor in the past few months. Furthermore, recall that in 2022, the Nigerian Navy succeeded in eradicating piracy in Nigerian waters, and Nigeria was delisted from the International Maritime Bureau List of piracy-prone countries.”
But Rear Admiral Ferreira said despite these feats by the Navy there have been misrepresentations in certain quarters aimed at tarnishing its reputation. He blamed this on some individuals involved in oil theft and whose activities were severely disrupted by the Navy.
He, however, said that despite the disruptions by these “unpatriotic elements”, the Navy has remained critical in the success of several strategic initiatives such as the Presidential Crude Oil Barging Regime.
He said: “For instance, an alarm of crude oil theft on MT PRAISEL in August 2023 at Escravos in which the Navy was alleged to have been involved was proven to be false. Similarly, on May 3, 2024, another false allegation led to the disruption of the operations of MT PRESTIGIOUS and MT MONTAGU involved in the Presidential Crude Oil Barging Operations at Bonny. These disruptions resulted in the loss of over 1.2 million barrels of crude oil with the attendant reduction in revenues during the period of their arrest between 4 – 16 May 2024.
“Also, on Nov 7, 2024, based on credible intelligence, a barge suspected to be involved in oil theft was arrested in Warri by Nigerian Navy personnel. Also, on 10 Nov 24, MT LADY MARTINA conveying HPFO to MT JASMINES involved in Presidential Crude Oil Barging Operations at Bonny was alleged to have stolen crude oil. The Nigerian Navy conducted a series of tests which confirmed the product onboard to be HPFO as approved by regulatory authorities.
“These false accusations were not backed by evidence but primarily designed to tarnish the image of the Nigerian Navy and dampen the morale of personnel involved in anti-oil theft operations.
“In addition, the perpetrators of these false alarms inflict unwarranted disruptions in legitimate business in the oil industry. This is detrimental to the ease of doing business in Nigeria’s oil sector and negates Mr President’s desire to increase investment in the oil industry.”
Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have deactivated 32 new illegal refineries destroyed 54 local boats constructed by oil thieves and recovered 250, 000 litres of stolen products in their ongoing operations to stop economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.
A statement by the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said many suspects were arrested and few vehicles intercepted during the operations, which he said involved other security agencies.
In Rivers State, where he said many operations were conducted with huge successes recorded, Danjuma confirmed that at Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (LGA), along River Ekpe-Mgbedei, troops deactivated two illegal refining sites.
He said they also destroyed three large tanks filled with over 45,000 litres of stolen crude, 6 drums filled with over 1,200 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), two mini tanks with over 3,000 litres of stolen products.
“Others include 4 dugouts pits with over 12,000 litres of crude, 3 empty tanks, 3 sacks of stolen AGO estimated to be over 2,000 litres and 8 drums”, he said.
Danjuma said around Soku Gas Plant in Akuku-Toru LGA, a tug boat with over 50,000 litres of AGO was intercepted with five crew members.
He said: ” At Karakrama in Degema LGA, 21 wooden boats, twelve fibre boats used for criminality were destroyed with over 28,000 litres of stolen crude confiscated. Troops, also conducted operations at VIP creek and new Jerusalem in Okrika LGA, where numerous jerricans filled with stolen products were intercepted.
“At the adjoining creeks, along the fringes of Imo River, over Fourteen illegal refining sites, 102 cooking drums, ten ovens, twelve boats were destroyed, with a number of dugout pits with over 15,000 litres of stolen products handled appropriately”.
He said in Bayelsa State, troops conducted several strangulation operations adding that at Olukama 1 and Amalaghakiri general areas in Nembe LGA, two illegal refining sites were deactivated with over 5,000 of stolen products recovered.
“Likewise, around Bolo Bokini general area, in Nembe LGA, two illegal refining sites were destroyed with over 4,500 litres of stolen products recovered. At Clough and Diebu Creeks, in seperate operations conducted, two illegal refining sites one boat with over 7,000 litres of stolen products were confiscated”, he said.
Danjuma noted that in another decisive operations conducted at Ngiloba community, Ekeremor LGA, several sacks with products estimated to be over 2,000 litres were recovered.
“This was in addition to 2 empty wooden boats suspected to be used for illegal bunkering activities destroyed. The situation around Okordia forest in Yenagoa LGA, was the same with one illegal refining site destroyed with over 4,000 stolen crude recovered, with one reported case of illegal connection handled”, he said.
In Delta State, he said a tipper truck was intercepted with over 30 drums of stolen condensates and two occupants of the vehicle were arrested.
He added: “Also, at North of Benneth Island in Warri South LGA, two active illegal refining sites were taken out with several holding facilities destroyed. Additionally, several dugout pits were discovered with over 12,500 litres of stolen crude.
“At Aghigho Oil Field also in Warri South LGA, troops intercepted a wooden boat loaded with crude oil packaged in 40 cellophane bags estimated to be over 1,800 litres”.
Danjuma said the operation at Elume community in Okpe LGA, led to the destruction of one illegal refining site with five empty drums.
He said: “Troops, also conducted operations around Jones creek, in Warri South where two suspects were arrested in connection with the vandalization of an oil well head equipment at Wells seven and 40. It was also discovered that suspected saboteurs fixed a valve on the pipeline within Idemili general area.
“Various equipment were recovered at the scene. These include two drilling machines, two shovels, two spanners and ten nuts and bolts. Other items included one electric cable, two valve cover, one tarpaulin, one pack of electrons and a short pipe.
“Akwa Ibom State had several anti illegal oil bunkering operations conducted. This led to the arrest of two trucks with over an 30,000 litres each of stolen products along Port Harcourt Ikot Abasi road. Relatedly, at Ette junction in Ikot Abasi LGA, troops intercepted several jerricans, 6 polythene bags filled with stolen crude”.
