Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army (NA) have arrested 43 suspected oil thieves, destroyed 27 illegal refineries, and recovered over 161,000 litres of stolen products across the South-South Region.
Confirming the operations, the acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said in Bayelsa State, along Zarama-Joinkrama 4, the troops discovered an illegal connection point at Wellhead 10.
Danjuma said In a follow-up operations, five cooking ovens, five reservoirs, five dugout pits, a generator and over 30,000 litres of stolen crude were recovered.
“While at Biseni Community, Adibawa in Yenagoa LGA, two illegal connection points connected to the pipeline, linked to an illegal refining site, were discovered.
“Additionally, 19 big pots, 18 drum pots, 36 drum receivers, 19 drum coolants, a pumping, 6 metallic drum receivers stocked with over 4,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) and over 27,600 litres of stolen crude stored in 460 sacks were handled”, he said.
Danjuma said the operations conducted at Luka Creek, around Lagosgbene in Southern Ijaw LGA, led to the discovery of an illegal refinery with over 1,500 litres of stolen products confiscated.
He said at Tamogbene in Ekeremor LGA, 71 big pipes, 30 small pipes, concealed under logs of wood, one 40HP engine, and a wooden boat were recovered by the troops, adding that two suspected vandals, conveying the items in a boat, absconded on sighting troops.
He said in Rivers State, a fibre boat, one wooden boat, and a large wooden barge filled with over 27,000 litres of stolen Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were intercepted by the troops.
Danjuma said: “In addition, eight suspected oil thieves were apprehended in connection with the crime.
“Around Dorger Land Community in Okrika LGA, a wooden boat laden with 18,980 litres of PMS was intercepted, with three suspected oil thieves apprehended.
“Other seizures were made at Okarki Forest, Banana Creek in Ahoada West, and Degema LGAs respectively.
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“Along Egbema-Okolomade in Abua/Odual LGA, an illegal refining site was uncovered with two cooking ovens, drums, and receivers as well as over 3,000 litres of stolen crude recovered.
“Troops, also intercepted a truck at Oyingbo with Registration Number SML 204 VJ, loaded with over 3,000 litres of stolen crude concealed in sacks. In a related development, at Omoku, close to the waterside, troops intercepted over 2,700 litres of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) in 45 sacks.
In Akwa Ibom State,.Danjuma said a suspected oil thief was arrested at Ekparakwa along Ikot Abasi-Oruk Anam LGA, with 63 Nylon bags filled with over 1,900 litres of stolen AGO, while on transit with an Infinity Jeep with Registration Number APR 105 KX Abia State.
He said two suspected oil thieves were arrested along Abak-Ikot Abasi road, also in Abak LGA, in a Toyota Camry with Registration Number UJ 804 KJA Lagos, loaded with over 840 litres of PMS, stocked in 31 Nylon bags.
Danjuma said in Delta State, within Obodo, Ugbukoko, Jatumi, and Obofo Oil Fields, in Warri South LGA, troops discovered two wooden boats loaded with over 3,600 litres of stolen crude stored in 120 cellophane bags concealed in a creek.
He explained that at the Bennett Ogboloja area, also in Warri South LGA, two illegal refining sites, two ovens, two pumping machines, as well as a makeshift shop stocked with drums of illegally refined AGO, estimated to be over 500 litres, were handled appropriately.
He said at Urakpa Gana waterside in Sapele LGA, four suspected oil thieves were arrested in possession of 57 sacks of stolen condensates, estimated to be over 1,800 litres.
He said at Urakpa Gana, troops also intercepted two Toyota vehicles with Registration Numbers GWA 312 KZ and Delta WWR 675 JU loaded with 1,630 litres of condensates filled in 47 bags.