OIl theft: Troops have arrested 10 pipeline vandals, two sea pirates, says DHQ

The defence headquarters (DHQ) says troops of Operation Delta Safe have apprehended 10 suspected pipeline vandals and two high-profile sea pirates in the Niger Delta. 

Bernard Onyeuko, acting director, defence media operation, made this known at a bi-weekly news briefing of the Defence headquarters on Thursday in Abuja.

Onyeuko gave the names of the arrested sea pirates as “Fagha Golden, known by the alias Fine Boy and Victor Elkanah, also known as Victor Padi”.

He said Fine Boy was apprehended at Nonwa village in Tai LGA of Rivers, while Padi was captured at Pharzy Spring Diagnostic and Wellness Hospital in One-Eleme LGA of the state.

According to him, the suspects are notorious for armed attacks on oil vessels, kidnapping of expatriates and illegal oil bunkering in Rivers.

“The large quantity of crude and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and the number of arrested crude oil thieves show the unrelenting efforts by the troops,” Onyeuko said. 

“Troops have sustained offensive posture to deny criminals the much-needed space for their illegal operation in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states.

“In the process, several illegal oil refining sites were discovered and destroyed.

“These include 37 illegal refineries, 68 dugout pits, 188 storage tanks, 33 wooden boats, 16 pumping machines, one generator, one vehicle, 175 cooking ovens and 23 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.”