The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, codenamed, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), has uncovered over 50 illegal refining sites in Biseni forests of Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The Commander, OPDS, Rear Admiral John Okeke, who led the operation yesterday, said illegal refining of stolen crude oil was taking place in each of the sites uncovered.
He said a large dug-out open pit that could accommodate more than 10 trucks of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), popularly known as diesel, was being used to hold crude oil from the distribution points to their cooking sites.
He recalled that he had earlier warned oil thieves in the area to desist from the illegal business or relocate.
He equally recalled that on May 9, 2024, the troops were at Ukwa West LGA in Abia State bordering Rivers State and Imo River, he had issued similar warning for criminals to stop the illegalities
Okeke said: “As I said, we are not going to relent and it is a work in progress. We will not get tired, we will continue to give criminals hell; we are now in Biseni in Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa State.
“We traversed from Ahoada West LGA of Rivers State to reach this point. The most surprising thing is that this place is housing over 50 cooking sites with unique arrangements.
“It is where the thieves operating in this area have decided to be, so smart by connecting what is called a theft line made of two inches pipe, a galvanised pipe connecting directly to supply oil lines on the road, from a distance of one kilometre.
“Then they have a lot of funny connections where they have various arrangements of linking multiple connections where each of the oil thieves get their supply.
“From a large dug-out open pit that can accommodate more than 10 trucks of AGO, they are holding crude oil from where they distribute to their cooking sites.”
The OPDS commander called on the public-spirited individuals to continue to volunteer useful information to help the troops to apprehend the suspected criminals, saying the troops alone could not do it.
“Look at the thick forest we are in, you can never imagine that such serious crime is going on here. If not for the good spirited individuals that volunteered information, we wouldn’t have known what is happening in the forest,” Okeke stated.
The JTF Commander said his message to those involved in illegality had remained that sooner or later they would catch up with them and deal decisively with them.
He noted: “It appears that they felt that we are romancing with kid gloves, but I can assure you that it is getting out of hand and we won’t relax in our laurels to curb these illicit activities.
“I will begin to advocate more serious measures to address this challenge, because the country is bleeding. You know the illicit oil activities are doing more harm than good.
“When you allow such activities to be perpetrated continuously, the legitimate people that engage in crude business will not be able to sell their products because these criminals will be selling at far lower prices.
“The government needs to gain revenue for developmental purposes, that is why we have taken it as a force to continue to fight this battle and we will not back down.
Also, the OPDS) has destroyed over 40 illegal refining sites at Ukwa Forest, in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia.
Rear Adm. Okeke, who led the operation, said that over 40 sites operating in the area were refining stolen crude oil siphoned by oil thieves.
The commandant also called on residents of the region to partner the security agencies to rid the operational area of criminals, saying the area of Operation Delta Safe will never be a haven for illegality, especially those criminals that have engaged in pilfering of our oil.“I made it clear then on the assumption of duty that if you are not ready to indulge in legitimate business, you have two options: either relocate to another area or you embrace legitimate business,” he stated.
Okeke said the Joint Task Force had been able to traverse the 40 sites.
“But here we are today in Ukwa West of Abia State, bordering Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State, the criminals felt that we would never get to this place, but here we are.
“It is surprising to note that here we have over 17 divisions according to their naming, each of these divisions houses over 40 sites.
“Of course, behind me, you will see one that construction is ongoing; it’s far larger than two trucks. You can imagine the quantity of products they would have stolen and refined here.
“So, I want to say today, we are not going to relent. For those of you that do not want to abide by extant regulations regarding petroleum products, I will advise them to relocate because we will come for you,” he said.
