Troops of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, have destroyed over 115 illegal refining sites, seized 66 boats, and arrested 22 suspects.
The troops also decommissioned 27 stolen pipes, four pumping machines, and five illegal connections, while over 170,000 litres of stolen products and other associated items were confiscated.
The Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, disclosed in a statement that these successes were recorded in a series of coordinated operations conducted last week.
“In Bayelsa State, troops of the Division, conducted operations around the swampy Ibidi general area, Twon Brass, Agip Terminal in Brass Local Government Area (LGA), where one illegal refining site, one generator, one pumping machine, one reservoir as well as one large wooden boat with stolen refined products estimated to be over 90,000 litres was intercepted,” Danjuma said.
“In Southern Ijaw LGA, around Igbomotoru, 2 illegal refining sites, one wooden boat as well as over 2000 products were confiscated. In the same LGA, around Opotoma and Isinugbene, troops deactivated 2 illegal refining sites and confiscated over 2500 litres of stolen crude,” he said.
In Rivers State, operations were also highly successful. At the Imo River, over 79 illegal refining sites and 59 wooden boats were destroyed, with more than 40,000 litres of stolen products recovered.
Troops acted on credible intelligence near Cawthorne Channel II in Degema LGA, arresting four suspects along with a wooden boat laden with stolen installation pipes.
At Ebocha oil field, near Krakarma in Bille, three reactivated illegal refining sites were h over 3,000 litres of products confiscated.
Additional operations in Rivers State saw troops dismantling illegal connections and recovering equipment, including drum pots, ovens, receivers, and pumping machines.
At Ondoni in Onne LGA, two suspects were intercepted with 27 suspected stolen Nigerian Agip Oil Company pipes in a pickup truck. Further actions in Ahoada East, Degema, and other locations resulted in multiple arrests and the deactivation of numerous illegal sites.
In Delta State, troops intercepted a wooden boat carrying 40 sacks of illegally refined products at Asaba Asa Community jetty, leading to one arrest.
In Warri South West LGA, an illegal refining site was dismantled, and over 2,700 litres of stolen products were recovered.
In Akwa Ibom State, troops continued to dominate waterways and hinterlands to prevent further illegal activities.
General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, urged troops to maintain a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal artisanal refinery activities and related crimes in the Niger Delta region.
