29 suspected oil thieves arrested as 42 illegal refineries destroyed
Army
Abdullateef Fowewe
Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army have continued their onslaughts against economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta arresting 29 suspected oil thieves and destroying 42 illegal refineries.
The troops also recovered 197,000 litres of stolen products and demobilised 32 boats and 12 vehicles used by economic saboteurs in the region.
The acting deputy director of Army Public Relations, Lt Col Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, confirmed that the troops conducted several operations in Bayelsa State.
Danjuma said around Biseni Forest in Yenagoa Local Government Area four newly established illegal refining sites were deactivated with about 37,000 litres of stolen crude recovered.
He stated that such a feat was also replicated at Benkrukru, around Oando Wellhead in Okordia Forest in Yenagoa LGA, where newly established illegal refining sites with about 29,900 and 2,000 illegally refined crude and Automotive Gas Oil, respectively were recovered.
Danjuma said at Olukama and Sabasuo areas in Nembe LGA, an Illegal refining site, a wooden boat ladened with over 5,000 litres of water stolen crude was handled appropriately while at Igbomotoru Creek in Southern Ijaw, a wooden boat hidden inside the creek with over 1,000 litres of stolen crude was recovered.
Danjuma said, “Similarly, operations were conducted in Rivers State, which spurred successes. Around Kula in Akuku-Toru LGA, three illegal refining sites, one wooden and five fibre boats were intercepted with over 30,000 litres of stolen crude.
“Similarly, at Bille in Degema LGA, two illegal refining sites, two wooden boats with about 4,000 litres of stolen crude were recovered. Along the Imo River, 13 illegal refining sites, 73 drum pots, 40 drum receivers, eleven metal container receivers, and over 28,500 litres of stolen products were handled.
“Seizures were also made along Elele-Omoku road, Obiafo, Ododa, and Ogbogolo Communities in Abual/Odual LGA, Alesa in Eleme LGA, Odagwa – Imo River in Etche LGA and Coconut Estate in Bonny Island LGA, amongst several other localities.”
He further stressed that in Delta State, at Aronwon Community in Warri North LGA, one active illegal refining site with five ovens, one boat, and about 5,000 litres of illegally refined AGO was destroyed by the troops.
He said the troops also intercepted three tanker trucks loaded with substances suspected to be illegally refined AGO within the premises of Pig Parker Filling Station along refinery road in Uvwie LGA adding that five suspected oil thieves were arrested in connection to the products.
