Troops nab 38 oil thieves, recover 700,000 litres of stolen products in Niger Delta
Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army in partnership with other security agencies have arrested 38 suspected oil thieves, destroyed 28 illegal refineries and recovered 700,000 litres of stolen products in 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 many locally made boats used for oil theft in the region.
He said many of the operations conducted in Rivers State in the past week, particularly around Okolomade, Orashi, and Ozochi forests, resulted in massive breakthroughs
He said during the Rivers operations, troops traced an illegal connection on a Wellhead at Ozochi Forest and that in follow-up operations, the operatives discovered and recovered over 200 sacks of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO), over 300,000 litres of stolen crude in cooking ovens and 300,000 litres of stolen AGO.
He said ither seizures included six cooking ovens of 100,000 litres capacity each, four reservoirs, six receivers, pumping machines and generators.
Danjuma named other items recovered as hoses used for transporting the stolen products, adding that three suspected oil thieves had been taken into custody in connection with the malfeasance.
He explained that around Alode junction in Eleme, following credible intelligence, troops swooped on a truck with two Lagos State Registration Numbers, LSR 546 YH and LND 974 XD, loaded with over 45,000 litres of stolen AGO, parked at the junction.
He noted that similar operations conducted at Obiafor Forest led to the arrest of five suspected oil thieves, who were alleged to have established a new illegal bunkering site in the area.
He further said that the troops discovered a locally made reservoir, situated 300 meters away from an abandoned Wellhead laden with over 25,000 litres of stolen crude.
Danjuma said that in the Olughighi area, a wooden boat loaded with over 10,000 litres of stolen crude hidden in the creeks was demobilised.
He said the ongoing clearance operations conducted by troops along the Imo River led to the deactivation of seven illegal refining sites, with 31 drum pots, 10 drum receivers demobilised, and 38 sacks with over 7,000 litres of stolen products recovered.
“Similarly, a sting operation conducted at a makeshift accommodation at Amahausa Community in Ahoada East LGA, led to the recovery of over 50 sacks of illegally refined crude oil estimated to be over 2,500 litres”, he said.
Danjuma said in Bayelsa State, around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA, an illegal refining site with six ovens, receivers, as well as a reservoir with over 2,000 litres of stolen products, was destroyed by the operatives
He said at Isonogbene Creek in Southern Ijaw, troops successfully deactivated an illegal refining site with over 1,500 litres of stolen crude in a reservoir.
Danjuma said that in Delta State, operations at Ughoton Creeks in Warri South LGA led to the destruction of three active illegal refineries with multiple holding facilities, sacks, and six drums containing over 3,600 litres of stolen crude and AGO.
He said: “At Wellhead 3 Olomoro Flow station in Isoko South LGA, troops intercepted a truck with Registration Number MUS 948 XN loaded with crude oil close to the flow station. The driver was arrested and is being interrogated accordingly.
“In Akwa Ibom State, along Abak – Ikot Abasi road, in Abak LGA, troops intercepted a Mini bus with Registration Number BMT 459 XA, Akwa Ibom State, loaded with over 1,170 litres of illegally refined AGO stocked in nylon bags. The driver of the bus has been arrested”.
