Troops destroy 40 illegal refining sites, arrest oil thieves

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says in the past two weeks, its troops have discovered and destroyed 40 illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta region.

In a statement on Thursday, Musa Danmadami, director of the defence media operations, said the troops also apprehended 53 suspected oil thieves and other criminals within the period in various operations across the south-south zone.

Danmadami said the soldiers had continued the war on oil theft and illegal refineries by conducting aggressive and increased raids and clearance operations, as well as patrolling. 

He said the land, maritime, and air components of operation Delta Safe conducted operational activities at creeks, waterways, high seas, towns, cities in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers to checkmate the activities of the perpetrators and deny them freedom of action.

The troops, according to Danmadami, discovered and destroyed 10 bags and five jerricans (25 litres) of illegally refined automotive gas oil (AGO) along the Tuomo-Atamasa flow line in Delta state’s Burutu local government area on January 30, as well as a loaded double barrel gun.

He said they also destroyed an illegal refining site, seven metal ovens, 12 metal drums, 10 dugout pits, six storage tanks, and 47 cellophane bags containing illegally refined products on February 3.

“Cumulatively, within the weeks under review, troops discovered and destroyed 40 illegal refining sites, 136 storage facilities, 66 ovens, 39 wooden boats, one generator, 11 vehicles and two tricycles,” Danmadami said. 

“Additionally, troops recovered 222,000 litres of suspected crude oil, 83,000 litres of illegal refined automotive gas oil and 1,000 litres of dual purpose kerosene while 53 suspected economic saboteurs were arrested.

“All recovered items and apprehended suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action.”

Danmadami said the air component conducted air interdiction operations at several illegal refining sites and creeks in Lelekiri, Owoko, and Biemekiri in Rivers as well as Ogiritoro in Mbo LGA of Akwa Ibom, between January 30 and February 3.

He said the air crew observed some sites to be active with illegal refining activities, while others were observed to be abandoned.

“The active targets locations were engaged with weapons and the location were observed to have exploded in an inferno after the strike, while the illegal refining equipment were equally destroyed,” he added.