The Nigerian Military has sustained its renewed onslaught against oil thieves and illegal petroleum products facilities in the Niger Delta region.
On Sunday, December, 29, 2024, troops of the the 6 Division, announced the the destruction of no fewer than, 20 illegal petroleum products refineries ,and subsequent arrests of about eight suspected Oil thieves.
A statement from its spokesperson Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, a Lieutenant Colonel, said that troops, also, intercepted 90,000 litres of stolen petroleum products, and destroyed over 21 operational boats, being used for oil theft.
According to the Division, the seizures and dismantling of the Illegal petroleum products refineries were carried out in Asari- Tolu Degema, Etche,Yenagoa, and Ekeremor Local Councils of Rivers and Bayelsa states.
Danjuma also noted that some operations were also carried out in Mbo, Local Government of Akwa Ibom, and some parts of Delta states during the same period.
According to Danjuma, in Buguma area in Asari-Tolu Council of Rivers State, troops, during operation discovered a huge tarpaulin storage reservoir ,as well as a wooden boat laden with about 37,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.
In the Buguma/Bakana areas of the same Asari-Tolu, he noted that before destroying a big illegal refinery, and intercepting about 9,000 litres of Duel purpose Kerosene DPK, troops were engaged in a fierce gun battle with some of the suspected oil thieves.
According to him, troops, equally seized and destroyed three locally fabricated boats used in the loading of crude from an abandoned wellhead.
Three suspects were apprehended during the operation in Buguma, the Army stated.
In Degema, 2000 litres of stolen petroleum products were seized with about two illegal refineries, four fibre and three wooden operational boats destroyed, Col Danjuma stated.
According to the Division’s spokesperson, one illegal refining site, two drum pots, a wooden boat and over 3,500 litres of stolen petroleum products were intercepted and dismantled.
However, at the fringes of Imo river, he informed that about seven illegal refining sites, 6 boats,122 drum pots ,49 drum receivers and over 10,000 litres of stolen petroleum products were also recovered and destroyed.
In the same vein, different operations conducted in Ekeremor and Yenagoa Councils of Bayelsa, resulted in the interception and destruction of some illegal refineries and about 8,000 litres of stolen products, Danjuma noted.
“Troops also uncovered an attempt at vandalizing one of the inactive Shell Petroleum Development Company’s flow lines at Well 20 by unknown persons in Opukushi general area of Ekeremor Local Council of Bayelsa state.
Troops intercepted eleven 280 litre drums loaded with about 3,080 litres of Premium Motor Spirit PMS in Ewang II in Mbo LGA of Akwa Ibom” Danjuma stated.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the 6 Division in collaboration with other sister security agencies in halting the activities of oil thieves and other criminal activities that threaten legitimate oil explorations.
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