The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has announced that its troops, working in collaboration with other security agencies, have dismantled around 115 illegal refining sites and seized 66 boats in Rivers and Bayelsa states.
According to The PUNCH, the acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Division, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma,shared these details in a statement released in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
The operation also led to the arrest of 22 individuals suspected of involvement in these illegal activities.
The Army explained that ghe operation resulted in the recovery of 27 stolen pipes and four pumping machines, while five illegal connections used for siphoning crude oil were neutralized.
Additionally, over 170,000 liters of stolen products were confiscated, along with the deactivation of other related equipment.
Danjuma said, “In several operations conducted simultaneously last week, troops have effectively denied criminal elements and economic saboteurs freedom of action with tremendous successes recorded.
“Over 115 illegal refining sites, 66 boats destroyed, 22 suspects arrested, 27 stolen pipes, four pumping machines recovered, five illegal connections clamped and over 170,000 stolen products confiscated in addition to other ancillary items deactivated.
“In Bayelsa State, troops of the division conducted operations around the swampy Ibidi general area, Twon Brass, Agip Terminal in the Brass Local Government Area, where one illegal refining site, one generator, one pumping machine, one reservoir as well as one large wooden boat with stolen illegally refined products estimated to be over 90,000 litres was intercepted.
“Also, in the Southern Ijaw LGA, around Igbomotoru, two illegal refining sites, one wooden boat as well as over 2,000 products were confiscated. In the same LGA, around Opotoma and Isinugbene, troops deactivated two illegal refining sites and confiscated over 2,500 litres of stolen crude.
“Similarly, at Oyenegbene also in the Southern Ijaw LGA, four illegal refining sites, two wooden boats, and pumping machines were recovered, in addition to over 2,500 litres of stolen crude confiscated.
“At Okarki forest, one illegal artisanal refinery was destroyed with over 5,000 stolen crude confiscated.
“In Rivers State, troops of the division also dominated the operations environment, with footprints of operational successes. At the notorious Imo River, over 79 illegal refining sites, 59 wooden boats were destroyed, with over 40,000 stolen products recovered.
“These recoveries were in addition to other ancillary items deactivated at the sites. Additionally, troops acting on credible intelligence, on the activities of vandals at an installation owned by Webster Global ventures limited, close to Cawthorne Channel II, flow station in Degemay LGA, mobilised to the site and arrested four suspects.
“The suspects were arrested with a wooden boat laden with scraps and parts of the installation pipes suspected to have been stolen.”
In a separate operation at the Ebocha oil field near Krakarma in the Bille area of Degema, troops discovered an attempt to reactivate a previously dismantled site. During the operation, they destroyed three illegal refining sites and seized approximately 3,000 liters of illicit products.
“Troops also closed on oil thieves at Odagwa in Etche LGA, where several illegal connection points were identified and clamped. This was in addition to two drum pots, one pumping machine hidden in the swamp, one oven, two receivers, and three dugout pits were deactivated with over 2,000 litres of stolen crude recovered.
“In Ondoni, Onne LGA, troops intercepted two suspects conveying 27 suspected vandalised Nigerian Agip Oil Company pipes in a Daina pickup truck with Reg No Ebm 126 XA RI. Also, at Krakarma and Bille general area in Degema, four illegal refining sites were destroyed, and six suspected oil thieves were arrested.
“The same feat was recorded at Ogbogolo forest in Ahoada East, where seven illegal refining sites were destroyed with over 2,000 litres of stolen products handled appropriately.”
Maj. Gen. Jamal Abdussalam, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, called on troops to maintain a zero-tolerance approach toward illegal artisanal refinery activities and related crimes in the Niger Delta region.
He also appealed to critical stakeholders, especially communities where these illegal activities are prevalent, to take action against them, citing the severe environmental damage and economic impact these crimes have on the nation.