Troops recover 591,000 litres of stolen products, destroy 21 illegal refineries in Niger Delta
City Beats
Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in partnership with other security agencies, have dismantled 21 illegal refineries, arresting 36 suspected oil thieves and confiscating over 591,000 litres of stolen products in the ongoing crackdown against oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta Region (NDR).
Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, confirmed various operations.
Danjuma said in Rivers, around Orashi Game Reserve/Okolomade in Abua/Odual Local Government Area, troops discovered and traced a hose, which spanned over 15km connected to an illegal loading point.
He said in a follow-up, five illegal refining sites with a large metal tank loaded with over 350,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) were handled.
“These were in addition to a large ovens, with a massive dugout, filled over 100,000 litres of stolen crude handled appropriately. Several items, including a pumping machine, borehole, electric cables and sockets were recovered at the scene”, he said.
Danjuma said at the fringes of the notorious Imo River, troops destroyed seven illegal refining sites, confiscated 1,428 bags of stolen products estimated to be over 21,500 litres of crude, demobilised five boats used for the illicit venture, with 38 drum pots and 15 drum receivers destroyed.
He said the troops also intercepted a truck with registration number EFR 302 XA at Elelenwa, Eleme Local Government Area, loaded with 20,000 litres of stolen products.
He said at Otokolomabie and Coconut Estate in Bonny Local Government Area, following intelligence, troops discovered a boat hidden in the creeks, filled with over 10,000 litres of stolen products.
Danjuma said at Okarki Forest in Ahoada West Local Government Area, an illegal refining site, consisting of an oven, receiver waste pit and a 50-metre long hose were destroyed by the troops.
In Bayelsa State, the said the troops intercepted a DAF XF380 Tanker truck with Registration number ABM 210 XA Rivers State loaded with 45,000 litres of stolen AGO, adding that three suspected oil thieves were apprehended with the truck.
“Likewise, in a creek between Oyeregbene and Babragbene communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, a wooden boat loaded with over 1,000-litre stolen crude was concealed in the creek,” he said.
Danjuma said in Akwa Ibom State, acting on intelligence, the troops intercepted a tanker truck with registration number DAM 97 XA suspected to be conveying over 16,500 litres of stolen crude at Ring Road 2 in Uyo Local Government Area, but he said the driver of the vehicle left the engine running and fled on sighting the troops.
He explained that in Delta State around Ovrogbor Waterside in Isoko South Local Government Area, troops pursued two Toyota Camry vehicles with registration number WWR 542 AJ and GB JI 70 AA and intercepted them at Ada – Inri Community.
He said the vehicles were discovered to be conveying over 1,250 litres of illegally refined AGO adding that at Egbokodo in Warri South Local Government Area, 38 sacks filled with over 1,175 litres of stolen crude were hidden in the bush.
He said: “Troops in snap checks at Koka in Oshimili South Local Government Area, intercepted a Honda vehicle with Registration number AAA 289 BM. In a search on the vehicle, two fabricated pistols, a cutlass, cartridges and N25,100 only were recovered.
“All the suspects arrested were handed over to the relevant agency for prosecution, while seizures made.”
