By Uzoamaka Onwu
Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, working closely with other security agencies, have dismantled eighteen illegal refining sites, arrested seventeen suspected oil thieves, and demobilized ten boats, with the recovery of over 25,000 litres of stolen products across the Niger Delta Region.
In operations conducted within Rivers State, particularly around Kilometre 45, Idama general area in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area (LGA), troops destroyed two active illegal refining sites, with the interception of three wooden boats loaded with over 9,000 litres of stolen crude. Meanwhile, at Ogale junction along the Eket – Port Harcourt expressway, a truck loaded with over 3,000 litres of stolen crude was impounded.
In a statement by the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Danjuma, at Okwuzi in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, troops discovered an illegal oil bunkering dump with over 2,100 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) stocked in sacks, while suspected oil thieves fled upon sighting troops.
In Bayelsa State, at Clough Creek in Ekeremor LGA, three illegal refining sites were dismantled, with the recovery of one pumping machine and over 3,500 litres of crude, as well as the demobilization of two wooden boats. A similar operation was conducted around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA, where troops deactivated one illegal refining site, recovering over 2,000 litres of stolen crude.
More: Explosion, Oil Spill Reported in Bonny LGA, Rivers State
Also, in Delta State, troops intercepted a Toyota Camry conveying 16 cellophane bags with an unspecified quantity of illegally refined AGO at Oton Village in Sapele LGA. In a follow-up operation, six suspected oil thieves were arrested. Additionally, along the Ughelli – Patani expressway, a tricycle conveying several sacks of illegally refined products was intercepted by the troops.
Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Eric-Emekah, has commended the troops and charged them to sustain the operational tempo. He emphasized that continued pressure would deny economic saboteurs the freedom to carry out their nefarious activities in the Niger Delta Region.
