The Nigerian Army has dealt a significant blow to oil thieves and illegal refiners in Rivers and Bayelsa states, destroying 115 illegal refining sites and arresting 22 suspects. The operation, conducted by troops of the 6 Division in conjunction with other security agencies, also resulted in the recovery of stolen pipes, pumping machines, and crude oil.
According to Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, the operation was carried out simultaneously in both states, with troops dominating the operational environment and recording tremendous successes.
In Bayelsa State, troops conducted operations around the swampy Ibidi general area, Twon Brass, Agip Terminal in the Brass Local Government Area, where one illegal refining site, one pumping machine, one generator, one reservoir, as well as one large wooden boat with stolen illegally refined products estimated to be over 90,000 liters was intercepted.
Additionally, in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, around Igbomotoru, two illegal refining sites, one wooden boat, as well as over 2,000 products were confiscated. In the same LGA, around Opotoma and Isinugbene, troops deactivated two illegal refining sites and confiscated over 2,500 liters of stolen crude.
Similarly, at Oyenegbene also in the Southern Ijaw LGA, four illegal refining sites, two wooden boats, and pumping machines were recovered, in addition to over 2,500 liters of stolen crude confiscated. At Okarki forest, one illegal artisanal refinery was destroyed with over 5,000 stolen crude confiscated.
Notably, in Rivers State, troops of the division also dominated the operations environment, with footprints of operational successes. At the notorious Imo River, over 79 illegal refining sites, and 59 wooden boats were destroyed, with over 40,000 stolen products recovered. These recoveries were in addition to other ancillary items deactivated at the sites.
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 Degema LGA, mobilized to the site and arrested four suspects. The suspects were arrested with a wooden boat laden with scraps and parts of the installation pipes suspected to have been stolen.
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In another operation at Ebocha oil field around Krakarma in the Bille general area of Degema, troops observed an attempt to re-activate an earlier destroyed site, where three illegal refining sites were destroyed and products estimated to be over 3,000 liters confiscated.
It is worth noting that the troops also closed in on oil thieves at Ondangwa in Etche LGA, where several illegal connection points were identified and clamped. This was in addition to two drum pots, one pumping machine hidden in the swamp, one oven, two receivers, and three dugout pits were deactivated with over 2,000 liters of stolen crude recovered.
In Ondoni, Onne LGA, troops intercepted two suspects conveying 27 suspected vandalized Nigerian Agip Oil Company pipes in a Daina pickup truck with Reg No Ebm 126 XA RI. Also, at Krakarma and Bille general area in Degema, four illegal refining sites were destroyed, and six suspected oil thieves were arrested.
The same feat was recorded at Ogbogolo forest in Ahoada East, where seven illegal refining sites were destroyed with over 2,000 liters of stolen products handled appropriately.
It bears mentioning that the General Officer Commanding, the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Jamal Abdussalam has commended the troops for their efforts and urged them to ensure zero tolerance for illegal artisanal refinery activities and associated crimes in the Niger Delta region.
He also called on critical stakeholders, particularly the communities where these illegalities thrive, to rise up to the occasion, given the devastating effects these criminalities have had on their immediate environment and the nation’s economy.
