Army Destroys 12 Illegal Refineries, Arrests 16 Suspects In Niger Delta

The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has announced the destruction of 12 illegal refining sites, the arrest of 16 suspects, and the recovery of approximately 70,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in the Niger Delta region.

Additionally, troops working alongside other security agencies demobilised six boats and intercepted nine vandalised pipelines in a week-long operation across Rivers and three other states.

The acting deputy director of Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt.

The statement further revealed that clearance operations around Imo River led to the destruction of three illegal refining sites, 43 cooking drum pots, 23 receivers, three fibre boats, and over 4,000 litres of stolen products in, Oyigbo, and Ukwa general areas.

“In the operations that ensued in Rivers State, troops intercepted two fully loaded suction trucks, conveying 12,000 litres of stolen crude each. The trucks were intercepted along Igwurita – Airport road in Ikwerre Local Government Area (LGA).

“Additionally, following credible intelligence on a massive storage facility at a scrap yard, also along Igwuruita – Airport road, troops confiscated over 10,000 litres of stolen products stored in several tanks in the yard.

“Relatedly, clearance operations conducted around Imo River led to the destruction of three illegal refining sites, 43 cooking drums pots, 23 receivers, three fibre boats as well as over 4,000 litres of stolen products handled around, Obigbo, Oyigbo and Ukwa general areas.

This was in addition to, one locally fabricated double barrel gun suspected to have been abandoned by the fleeing oil thieves on sighting troops in the area.

“Similarly, operations conducted around Mgbede Community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA (ONELGA), led to the deactivation of four illegal refining sites, 86 locally made ovens, with a dugout pit that contained over 7,200 and 2,700 litres of stolen crude and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) respectively.

“Along Ndoni waterside also in ONELGA, troops discovered over 102 sacks filled with over 5,100 litres of stolen AGO and premium motor spirit.

“At Agah general area, 35 sacks filled with over 2,100 litres of Illegally refined AGO were confiscated. While, at Omoku also in ONELGA, two oil thieves were apprehended with 14 sacks of condensates stored in their home.

“In Delta State, acting on credible intelligence, troops intercepted an abandoned locally constructed wooden boat with over 3,160 litres of stolen crude within Ashaka Okpai community water channel, leading to River Niger in Ndokwa East LGA.

“Additionally, eight sacks filled with unquantified quantity of condensates along Oando pipeline with Tuomo village in Bomadi were intercepted and handled inline with subsisting operational mandate.

“Meanwhile, in Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa State, a suspected oil thief was arrested with over 1,100 litres of illegally refined AGO. The suspects have been positively identified and handed over to the prosecuting agency. While, in Akwa Ibom State, troops have continued to dominate the rivulets, creeks, and waterways to effectively deny criminals elements freedom of action.”

The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, commended the troops for their operational successes and urged them to increase their efforts to ensure a secure environment for oil exploration activities.