Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, have arrested 29 suspected oil thieves in the Niger Delta region of the country.
The troops recovered over 60,000 litres of stolen petroleum products. They also destroyed 24 illegal refineries and demobilized eleven boats used by oil thieves to evacuate their stolen products.
Confirming the development, the Acting Deputy Director, of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt Col Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said the troops in a clearance operation conducted along the Imo River, deactivated six illegal refining sites and destroyed 113 drum pots and 83 drum receivers.
He said the troops demobilized two boats and recovered 18,000 litres of stolen products adding that around Asa in Obigbo Local Government Area (LGA), troops uncovered a reservoir with over 1,000 litres of stolen products as well as 100 sacks filled with over 1,500 litres of stolen crude.
“The operations were conducted at different times around Okoloma, Obuzor, Lekuma, Abiama, Asa and Ukwa general areas. Similarly, in Buguma general area, in Asari-Toru LGA, one illegal refining site, with two big pots as well as two receivers, with one stocked with over 9,000 litres of stolen crude were handled appropriately”, Danjuma said.
He said around Ebocha Well 5, troops swooped on an active illegal refining site with 28 empty locally made ovens, reservoirs filled with 5,900 and 3,500 illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) and stolen crude respectively.
He said also recovered at the site were 37 sacks filled with over 2, 220 litres of illegally refined AGO adding that one suspected oil thief was apprehended at the scene.
He said along Kumufari Creek in Akuku-Toru LGA, one illegal refining site, 200 meters hose with a reservoir stocked with over 1,500 litres of stolen products were handled accordingly.
He said: “In Delta State, following tip off about suspected illegal bunkering activities around Okpai Oluchi community in Ndokwa East LGA, troops mobilised to the area and conducted a sting operations.
“During the operations, over 70 sacks were confiscated along the SEEPCO Energy company pipeline within the Community, which led to the confiscation of over 2,800 litres of stolen products.
“Additionally, troops intercepted the movement of a suspected oil thief, who fled and abandoned his vehicle at Emiye Street along Palace Road in Isoko South LGA. The abandoned vehicle is a Sienna bus with Registration number Lagos APP 89 CV was loaded with 15 sacks of illegally refined AGO”.
Danjuma said in Bayelsa State, in the boundary between Joinkrama 4 in Yenagoa LGA and Okarki in Ahoada West LGA, troops destroyed two illegal refining sites.
He said around Biseni at the bank of the River Niger and Akpedi community in Yenagoa LGA and Akinima in Ahoada West LGA, troops intercepted 2,500 litres of AGO in sacks.
He said in Akwa Ibom State, troops continued to dominate the operations area, denying criminal elements freedom of action.
