By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies have destroyed 18 illegal refineries and arrested 17 suspected oil thieves in the Niger Delta region.
The troops also recovered 25,000 litres of stolen products and demobilized 10 boats during their weeklong operations in the region.
Confirming the development, the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said n operations conducted within Rivers State, particularly around Kilometre 45, Idama general area in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area (LGA), troops recorded significant operational milestones.
He said the troops destroyed two active illegal refining sites and intercepted three wooden boats loaded with over 9,000 litres of stolen crude.
He said at Ogale junction, along Eket – Port Harcourt expressway, troops impounded a truck loaded with over 3,000 litres of stolen crude.
Danjuma said at Okwuzi in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, troops discovered an illegal oil bunkering dump with over 2,100 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO), stocked in sacks, but said the suspected oil thieves fled on sighting them.
He explained that at Ogaji-Ama axis in Bukuma, a wooden boat ladened with over 1,000 stolen crude was intercepted inside the creek noting that during clearance operations at Imo River, two illegal refining sites, 23 drum pots, 14 drum receivers were destroyed, with over 2,000 litres of stolen crude confiscated.
Danjuma said: “In Bayelsa State, at Clough Creek in Ekeremor LGA, three illegal refining sites were dismantled, one pumping machine, with over 3,500 litres of crude were recovered, as well as two wooden boats demobilised. Similar operation was conducted around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA, where troops deactivated one illegal refining site with over 2,000 litres of stolen crude recovered.
“in a related vein in Delta State, troops intercepted a Toyota Camry with Registration number Anambra JJT 876 AE, conveying 16 cellophane bags with unspecified quantity of illegally refined AGO at Oton Village in Sapele LGA. In a follow up operations, Six suspected oil thieves were arrested. Also, along Ughelli – Patani expressway, a tricycle conveying several sacks of illegally refined products was intercepted by the troops”.
He said the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Eric Emekah commended the troops and charged them to sustain the operational tempo to deny economic saboteurs any freedom to carry out their nefarious activities in the area.
The Nation