The 6 Division, Nigerian Military in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, had mentioned its troops arrested 28 suspected oil thieves and destroyed 46 unlawful refineries within the Niger Delta area.
The Military mentioned through the operation, which ran between November 11 and 17, 2024, along with different safety businesses, 47 boats had been seized whereas 95,000 litres of stolen merchandise had been recovered.
The Performing Deputy Director, 6 Division Military Public Relations, Lt-Col. Danjuma Jonah disclosed this in an announcement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
Jonah mentioned the feat adopted a scale-up of ongoing anti-illegal oil bunkering operations throughout the Niger Delta area, stating that the most recent raids had been carried out in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states.
The assertion learn, “Within the newest achievements, troops recovered arms and ammunitions, deactivated 46 unlawful refining websites, 47 boats used to ferry stolen merchandise throughout the treacherous terrain, arrested 28 oil thieves with over 95,000 litres of stolen merchandise recovered.
“In Rivers State, following credible intelligence on the actions of financial saboteurs alongside the Oando pipeline in Ebocha, New base in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Native Authorities Space, troops swiftly mobilised to the realm. On reaching the spot, troops encountered armed vandals, who opened hearth on the troops. Within the firefight that ensued, the criminals who had been overwhelmed by superior hearth, fled in disarray.
“Additional exploitation of the final space led to the restoration of 1 AK-47 riffle, one journal loaded with 17 rounds of seven.62 mm (Particular) ammunition deserted by the fleeing armed vandals.”
The assertion added that relatedly, “a number of profitable operations had been performed within the area. Round Obiafu-Ndoni, massive wood boats had been intercepted conveying over 472 sacks of stolen crude estimated to be 28,320 litres.
“Seven suspected oil thieves have been arrested in connection to the heinous crime. A number of operations had been additionally performed across the Buguma basic space in Asari Toru LG, which led to the dismantling of quite a few unlawful refining websites, deactivation of a number of boats and the restoration of over 9,500 litres of stolen merchandise.
“Operations had been additionally performed round Tuma and Krakrama basic areas in Degema LGA with a number of wood and fibre boats destroyed and over 10,500 litres of stolen Automotive Gasoline Oil confiscated.”
In line with Jonah, the Basic Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Military, Maj-Gen. Jamal Abdussalam, has reassured that the division would proceed to conduct operations to safeguard essential nationwide infrastructures within the area.
“This, he averred will clear the area of financial saboteurs and guarantee a rise in oil output,” the assertion famous.