Troops of the Nigerian Army deployed in the Niger Delta have discovered and dismantled massive storage facilities containing illegally refined crude oil products worth over 200,000 litres in Bayelsa and Rivers States.
Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying the operation is in a bid to crack down on economic saboteurs.
He said troops also intercepted trucks laden with stolen crude oil in Delta State, further crippling the illicit oil trade, Vanguard reports.
In Bayelsa State, he said troops “uncovered an illegal refining site, oven, and metal reservoir containing over 110,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil at Dasaba Creek”.
“In Rivers State, they discovered over 33,000 litres being siphoned into a tank from the Indorama (Eleme Petrochemicals) pipeline.
“The operation, which was painstakingly conducted by troops, resulted in the recovery of several items, including pumping machines, hoses, and drums used to perpetrate criminality.
“Similarly, troops of the 63 Brigade intercepted trucks laden with over 30,000 litres of stolen products in Delta State,” he said.
Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma added that four suspects have been arrested and will be handed over to relevant agencies for prosecution.
“These breakthroughs are a testament to the renewed effort by troops to effectively clamp down on economic saboteurs and their collaborators,” he said.
