Port Harcourt – In a bid to curb illegal bunkering and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region, the Joint Task Force (JTF) has intensified operations against artisanal refineries, arresting eight suspects and seizing over 2,000 liters of condensates in Rivers State.
Troops of the 5 Battalion, Nigerian Army, carried out the raid along the Orashi River in the Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area, where the suspects were found transporting illegal products on motorcycles. The operation is part of a broader effort to tackle illegal bunkering and environmental degradation in the region.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah, Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, the arrests were made possible through credible intelligence gathering and swift action by the troops. He explained that the operations are aimed at curbing the activities of illegal refiners, who have been causing environmental havoc in the region.
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In a related operation, troops of the 29 Battalion identified and destroyed nine illegal refining sites around the Imo River, seizing over 15,000 liters of illegally refined products. The suspects have been handed over to the relevant authorities for prosecution.
Additionally, troops of the 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, dismantled illegal refining sites along the fringes of the River Niger, near Ndokwa East and Ndoni LGAs in Delta and Rivers States. The troops destroyed several items, including eight cooking pots, three storage tanks, three large storage dugouts, twelve feeders, and over 2,000 liters of crude oil stored in a metallic oven.
Two wooden boats, containing more than 10,000 liters of condensates, were seized after being abandoned by criminals in the creeks. The boats were handled in line with the mandate of Operation Delta Safe.
It bears mentioning that the Nigerian Army has urged residents of affected communities to report any criminal activities to security agencies, stressing the significant environmental hazards posed by these illegal operations. The Army also warned that it will continue to intensify its operations against illegal refiners and other criminal elements in the Niger Delta region.
