The Defence Headquarters has disclosed that about 145 illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta region were immobilised between May 2021 and January 6.
Speaking during a press briefing on military operations in the Niger Delta on Thursday, Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, troops of Operation Delta Safe immobilised 209 ovens, 122 cooking pots/boilers, 161 cooling systems, 224 reservoirs, 160 large dugout pits and 367 storage tanks at the sites.
He stated that 12.8 million litres of illegally refined diesel, 29,237 barrels and 6.49 million litres of stolen crude oil were recovered within the period, while 3.9 million litres of Kerosene and 10.2 million litres of illegally refined petrol were also seized by the troops.
“Additionally, troops recovered 33 assorted arms, 5,268 rounds of different calibres of ammunition and 21 AK-47 rifle magazines.
“Troops also impounded 3,110 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled smuggled rice, 662 pieces of galvanised pipes, 32 tanker trucks and 119 wooden boats used for illegal oil bunkering.
“Also, 41 kidnapped victims were rescued, while 77 criminal elements associated with pipeline vandalism, piracy, illegal oil bunkering and armed robbery were arrested within the period.
“All the arrested criminals and recovered items have been handed over to relevant security agencies for further action,” Onyeuko said.
