Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in conjunction with other security agencies, have destroyed over 115 illegal refining sites, destroyed 66 Boats, and arrested 22 suspects in connection to economic sabotage in the Niger Delta Region.
A statement by the Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah on 1st September 2024 said the troops also recovered 27 stolen pipes, 4 pumping machines, 5 illegal connections destroyed and over 170,000 stolen products have been confiscated in addition to other ancillary items deactivated.
In Bayelsa State, troops of the Division, conducted operations around the swampy Ibidi general area, Twon Brass, Agip Terminal in Brass Local Government Area (LGA), where one illegal refining site, one generator, one pumping machine, one reservoir as well as one large wooden boat with stolen illegally refined products estimated to be over 90,000 litres was intercepted.
Also, in Southern Ijaw LGA, around Igbomotoru, 2 illegal refining sites, one wooden boat as well as over 2000 products were confiscated. In the same LGA, around Opotoma and Isinugbene, troops deactivated 2 illegal refining sites and confiscated over 2500 litres of stolen crude.
In a move to tightened the grip against illegal oil activities to effectively deny criminal elements freedom of action, troops in Oyenegbene also in Southern Ijaw LGA, discovered 4 illegal refining sites, 2 wooden boats, and pumping machines, in addition to over 2500 litres of stolen crude confiscated. At Okarki forest, one illegal artisanal refinery was destroyed with over 5,000 stolen crude confiscated.
Troops in Rivers State also dominated the operations environment, with footprints of operational successes as over 79 illegal refining sites, 59 wooden boats were destroyed, with over 40,000 stolen products recovered at the notorious Imo River.
Additionally, troops acting on credible intelligence, on the activities of vandals at an installation owned by Webster Global ventures limited, close to Cawthorne Channel II, flow station in Degemay LGA, mobilised to the site and arrested 4 suspects. The suspects were arrested with a wooden boat laden with scraps and parts of the installation pipes suspected to have been stolen.
In Ebocha oil field around Krakarma in Bille general area of Degema, troops observed an attempt to be re-activate earlier destroyed site, where 3 illegal refining sites were destroyed and products estimated to be over 3,000 litres confiscated. Troops also closed on oil thieves at Odagwa in Etche LGA, where several illegal connection points were identified and clamped.
This was in addition to 2 drum pots, one pumping machine hidden in the swamp, one oven, 2 receivers, and 3 dugout pits were deactivated with over 2000 litres of stolen crude recovered.
At Ondoni, Onne LGA, troops intercepted 2 suspects conveying 27 suspected vandalised Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) pipes in a Daina pickup truck with Reg No Ebm 126 XA RI. Also, at Krakarma and Bille general area in Degema, 4 illegal refining sites were destroyed, and 6 suspected oil thieves were arrested. The same feat was recorded at Ogbogolo forest in Ahoada East, where 7 illegal refining sites were destroyed with over 2000 litres of stolen products handled appropriately.
In Delta State, troops intercepted a wooden boat at Asaba Asa Community jetty, Ndokwa East LGA, with over 40 sacks of illegally refined products. According to tge statement one person has been arrested in connection to the crime. In Warri South West LGA, one illegal refining site has been taken out with over 2700 litres of stolen products recovered.
While, in Akwa Ibom State, troops of the Division have continued to dominate the waterways and hinterland to effectively deny criminal elements freedom of action. The suspects have been handed over to the appropriate security agency for prosecution while confiscated products have been handled appropriately.
The General Officer Commnading, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam has urged troops to ensure zero tolerance for illegal artisanal refinery activities and associated crimes in the Niger Delta Region.
He urged critical stakeholders, particularly the communities where these illegalities thrive to rise up to the occasion, giving the devastating effects these criminalities have on their immediate environment and the nations economy.
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