Troops of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has arrested 11 suspected illegal oil bunkers and also deactivated over 20 illegal bunkering sanctuaries, while 22 boats used for the criminality were intercepted in the Niger Delta region.
Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt-Col. Danjuma Danjuma in a statement issued Monday said the army in conjunction with other security agencies have sustained the crackdown against illegal oil bunkering and associated crimes in the Niger Delta Region.
He said: “In the preceding week, Eleven suspects were arrested, over 20 illegal bunkering sanctuaries deactivated and 22 boats used for the criminality were intercepted.
“Additionally, six arms of various calibres and cartridges were recovered with over 118,000 litres of stolen products handled appropriately in various operations conducted across the region.”
Danjuma noted that in the operations conducted in Rivers State, troops effectively denied the economic saboteurs freedom of action.
He added that in Jigama, Bille general area, Degema LGA, troops effectively deactivated four active artisanal refineries, three wooden boats and recovered over 35,000 litres of stolen products.
Relatedly, in Krakarma, Bille general area, Degema LGA, Danjuma revealed that four active illegal refining sites, three fibre, as well as two wooden boats were destroyed with over 14,000 litres of stolen automative gas oil and 8,000 stolen crude recovered.
He noted: “At Orashi River, two wooden boats with over 5,500 litres of condensates were intercepted. This was in addition to one suspect arrested in connection to the act of vandalising the pipeline behind Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Gas Plant in Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema LGA (ONELGA). Along Obiafu Ndoni and Kreigani all in ONELGA, troops intercepted several vehicles loaded with stolen products.
“In Bayelsa State, around Okokokiri general area, in Nembe LGA, one illegal refining site, two massive metal tanks, with reservoirs were deactivated with over 30,000 litres of stolen products recovered.”
Also, Diebu Creek in Southern Ijaw LGA (SILGA), Danjuma stressed that two active illegal refining sites, three drums, five boats with over 4,500 litres of stolen products were confiscated.
“Similarly, around Tobo, Obotoro, Arugba and Okegbene Creeks also in SILGA, several illegal refining sites, 9 drums, 6 wooden boats with over 15,000 litres of illegally refined products were cumulatively recovered from the areas,” he said