Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army in partnership with other security agencies have sustained their onslaughts against economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta Region.
The troops in various operations recovered over 90,000 litres of stolen products; dismantled 20 illegal refineries; arrested eight suspected oil thieves a s destroyed 21 boats used for oil theft.
The Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt Col Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, confirmed the development on Sunday.
Danjuma said following intelligence on illegal activities around Buguma general area in Asari-Toru LGA, Rivers State, the troops discovered a massive tarpaulin storage reservoir and a wooden boat with over 37,000 litres of stolen condensates.
He said at Ogajiama axis of Buguma/Bakana general area, in Asari-Toru, the troops had a gun duel with suspected oil thieves, who fled later fled the area.
He said an illegal refining site, one big pot and a receiver containing 9,000 litres of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) were handled appropriately.
“This was in addition to three locally made boats intercepted in the area in the process of loading crude from an abandoned wellhead. Three suspected oil thieves were arrested during the operations”, he said.
Danjuma confirmed that around Krakrama community in Degema, two illegal refining sites, four fibre and three wooden boats were intercepted adding that about 2,000 litres of stolen crude were properly handled by the troops.
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He said at Gbede in Omoku, one illegal refining site, 27 locally made ovens, 31 sacks loaded with over 2,000 litres of stolen products were confiscated.
He noted that at Odagwa – Imo Riverside in Etche LGA, one illegal refining site, two drum pots, a wooden boat and over 3,500 litres of stolen products were recovered, adding that at the fringes of Imo River, Seven illegal refining sites, Six boats, 122 drum pots, 49 drum receivers and over 10,000 litres of stolen products were recovered by the soldiers.
Danjuma said in Bayelsa State, at Biseni Forest in Yenagoa LGA, one illegal refining site was dismantled with about 8,000 litres of stolen products confiscated.
“Troops also uncovered an attempt at vandalising one of the inactive Shell Petroleum Development Company’s flow lines at Well 20 by unknown persons at Opukushi general area in Ekeremor LGA”, he said.
Danjuma said in Akwa Ibom State, troops intercepted eleven 280 litre drums loaded with about 3,080 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at Enwang II in Mbo LGA.
He said in a follow-up operations conducted, troops discovered the source of the product, saying it was traced to a loading point at Dazele Filling Station, Ibaka.
He said additional 31 drums of PMS estimated at 8,680 litres were intercepted, confirming that preliminary investigation revealed that the products were primed for smuggling to a neighbouring country.
He said: “In Delta State, various kinetic and non kinetic lines of operations were conducted . These operations have effectively denied criminal elements freedom of action in the area.
Danjuma quoted the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Jamal Abdussalam as charging the troops to continue to maintain vigilance in the Joint Operations Area in order to create an enabling environment for exploration activities to thrive in the region.
He also called on the good people of the region to continue to provide actionable Intelligence to troops on the criminal activities of economic saboteurs in the region.
