Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army have recorded successes during operations, thwarting the criminal activities of illegal oil bunkering merchants, consolidating on the ongoing anti illegal oil bunkering operations in the Niger Delta Region (NDR).
This was made known in a statement by Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah.
Colonel Jonah said troops of the Division, acting on credible intelligence on suspicious movements of 3 speedboats, hibernating around Cawthorne Channel I, general area, swiftly moved to the scene intercepting a large wooden boat in the process of illegally siphoning crude from a barge at NNPC flow station.
The product, estimated to be over 198,000 litres, was being siphoned into the large wooden boat. In further exploitation, 5 suspected oil thieves were apprehended in connection to the crime at the scene. Several items were also recovered.
Overall, troops seized over 280,000 litres of stolen crude, destroyed over 63 illegal oil bunkering sites, discovered over 11 illegal connections and arrested 7 suspected oil thieves across the Niger Delta Region.
Similarly, in Rivers State and adjoining communities in neighbouring Abia State, troops combed the fringes of Imo River, where 4 illegal connections points were discovered at Isimiri and Obiakpu villages, in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State. Also, at Owaza and Uzuaku villages in Ukwa South, 2 illegal connections points were isolated and clamped by oil companies.
Additionally, one illegal refining site, one dugout 2 reservoirs, wooden boat with over 3,000 illegally refined products were confiscated in the areas.
In Bayelsa State, troops conducted operations along Igbomtoru pipeline in Southern Ijaw LGA, where 2 illegal refining sites, 2 wooden boats were destroyed with over 3,500 of stolen crude confiscated. At Tana-Gbene and Abala-Kiri also in Southern Ijaw LGA, one active Illegal refining site was destroyed, with over 1,000 stolen products handled accordingly.
This was also replicated at the general area of Lagos-Gbene in Southern Ijaw, where 3 active illegal refining sites were dismantled with over 2,000 products confiscated. Likewise, at Kaiama Community in Kolokuma/Okpokuma LGA, troops discovered over 1400 litres of illegally refined products in a residential building belonging to one Mr Emmanuel Okpara. The suspect has been arrested and handed over to the prosecuting agency.
In Delta State, troops effectively thwarted a failed attempt to vandalize a gas pipeline at Okpai community in Ndokwa West LGA, belonging to SEEPCO. In Warri South LGA, troops destroyed one active illegal refining site, 5 cooking pots, 5 ovens, one long hose as well as confiscated over 10,000 stolen crude.
The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdusalam, while appreciating troops for the renewed force posture, expressed optimism that no criminality would be allowed to thrive in the region.
He said troops are poised to create an enabling environment for exploration activities by oil companies to take place unhindered.
He urged them to sustain the pressure on oil thieves and associated crime in the region.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
