The Nigerian Army 6 Division reported that its troops discovered large dumps containing illegally refined products, totaling over 200,000 litres, stored across various locations in Bayelsa and Rivers States. This announcement followed the Army’s recent destruction of multiple illegal oil refining sites and recovery of products in Members, Bayelsa State, and Odagwa in the Etche local government area of Rivers State.
The latest findings were made at Dasaba Creek in Bayelsa State, where troops uncovered an illegal refining site, an oven, and a substantial metal reservoir filled with products believed to be stolen crude oil, estimated to exceed 110,000 litres. This information was shared in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday by Jonah Danjuma, the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division, Army Public Relations.
In Rivers State, the troops discovered over 33,000 litres of illegally siphoned oil being transferred into a tank. The operation was meticulously executed, with soldiers tracing an interconnected hose leading to a tank from the Indorama (Eleme Petrochemicals) pipeline, located deep in the bush behind a fence.
Read Also: Nigerian Cyclist Borrows Bicycle From German Team at 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Additionally, several items were recovered from the illegal sites, including two pumping machines, a long hose, and eleven drums utilized for criminal activities in the region. These discoveries highlight the ongoing efforts of the Army to combat illegal oil refining and its associated crimes.
In a related operation, troops from the 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, while conducting routine patrols, successfully intercepted trucks loaded with products suspected to be stolen crude oil in Delta State. This arrest occurred at the SEPLAT Energy Nigeria Ltd trunkline in Mosogar.
During this operation, authorities found that one of the trucks contained over 30,000 litres of stolen products. The trucks have been managed according to the existing mandate of Operation Delta Safe, which aims to address security challenges in the Niger Delta region.
These operations underscore the commitment of the Nigerian Army to tackling illegal oil refining and protecting the nation’s resources. The continuous efforts to dismantle such operations are crucial for maintaining law and order in the affected areas.
As the situation evolves, the Army remains vigilant in its operations, ensuring that those involved in illegal activities are brought to justice and that the environment is safeguarded from the detrimental effects of illegal oil refining.
