The Niger Delta, troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have neutralized two suspected oil thieves and detained 18 others. The operations, which took place across Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states, also led to the destruction of 13 illegal refineries.
Lt.-Col. Danjuma Danjuma, the division’s spokesman, detailed the extensive efforts made by the troops. "Our soldiers seized 60,000 liters of stolen petroleum products, seven boats, and recovered two AK-47 rifles," he said. Additionally, eight illegal connection points on wellheads and pipelines were uncovered during these operations.
The crackdown was not without resistance. In Ahoada West Local Government Area, vandals engaged the troops in a gun battle while they were raiding illegal refining sites. "Two vandals were neutralized in the process. Two AK-47 assault rifles, eight magazines, and 69 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered," Danjuma added.
Further operations in Bille, Rivers, saw the dismantling of four illegal refining sites, the seizure of two boats, and the confiscation of 6,000 liters of stolen petroleum products. In Odagba village near Imo River, troops intercepted two wooden boats carrying over 5,000 liters of petroleum products and confiscated two vehicles and four motorcycles abandoned by suspected oil thieves. These vehicles and motorcycles contained over 1,700 liters of stolen petroleum products.
In other parts of Rivers, specifically Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and Okirika, soldiers destroyed three illegal refining sites and recovered over 6,000 liters of stolen petroleum products. In Delta, a wooden boat siphoning crude oil from Wellhead 8 at Okpoko Oil Field was intercepted, and nine suspects were arrested in Ika North Local Government Area with 2,000 liters of stolen crude oil.
Bayelsa also saw significant action, with nine suspects arrested, three illegal refining sites destroyed, and the recovery of 14,000 liters of petroleum products and 1,500 liters of crude oil. Four boats were intercepted in Ekeremor. In Mbo, Akwa Ibom, six drums containing 1,500 liters of petrol were intercepted while being smuggled to a neighboring country through the waterways.
"The suspects have been handed over to the relevant agencies for further investigations and possible prosecution," Danjuma concluded.
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