Mohammed Shosanya
Operatives of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in conjunction with sister security agencies, have destroyed 46 illegal refining sites, arresting five suspected oil thieves in the Niger Delta region.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma on Sunday.
He highlighted that the army between November 11 and 17, 2024, recovered several ammunition, deactivating 46 illegal refining sites, and confiscation of over 95,000 litres of stolen products.
According to him,the troops in Rivers State, encountered armed vandals along the Oando pipeline in Ebocha, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, and after a firefight, the criminals fled, abandoning an AK-47 rifle and a magazine loaded with 17 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
He said large wooden boats conveying over 28,320 litres of stolen crude were intercepted around Obiafu-Ndoni, leading to the arrest of seven suspected oil thieves.
He added that several successful operations also were conducted around Buguma in Asari Toru Local Government Area, where over 9,500 litres of stolen products were recovered, while 10,500 litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were confiscated around Tuma and Krakrama in Degema Local Government Area in Rivers State.
In Bayelsa State, Danjuma disclosed that troops deactivated two illegal refining sites, recovered over 6,000 litres of stolen products, and seized two boats at Tunu and Clough Creeks in the Ekeremor Local Government Area.
The statement reads in part, “Similar operations were conducted in Nembe and Ogbia Local Government Areas, resulting in the destruction of several illegal refining sites and the recovery of over 3,000 litres of stolen products.
“In Delta State, troops intercepted a Sienna bus loaded with 28 cellophane bags of stolen AGO/Condensates at Oyede community in Isoko South Local Government Area, while in Akwa Ibom State, several vehicles were intercepted along Ikot Akan community in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, resulting in the recovery of over 2,160 litres of stolen AGO and the arrest of five suspects.”
He said the arrested suspects and products confiscated during the operations have been handed over to the relevant agency for prosecution.
The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, commended the troops, reassuring that the Division will continue to conduct operations to safeguard critical national infrastructures in the region, clearing the area of economic saboteurs and ensuring an increase in oil output.
