Report says Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have killed two suspected oil thieves, and arrested 18 others during different anti-illegal bunkering operations in Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Rivers States. The troops also destroyed 13 illegal refineries, seized 60,000 liters of stolen petroleum products, seven boats, recovered two AK-47 rifles while eight illegal connection points installed on wellheads and pipelines were uncovered during the operations.
Lt.-Col. Danjuma Danjuma, the division’s Spokesman, in a statement in Port Harcourt on Monday said that in Ekeremor, Bayelsa, soldiers arrested nine suspects, destroyed three illegal refining sites, recovered 14,000 liters of petroleum products, 1,500 liters of crude oil, and intercepted four boats. The army official stated that vandals engaged the troops in a gun battle while raiding illegal refining sites in Ahoada West Local Government Area.
“Two vandals were neutralized in the process. Two AK-47 assault rifles, eight magazines and 69 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered,” he said.
Danjuma further stated that troops dismantled four illegal refining sites, seized two boats, and confiscated 6,000 liters of stolen petroleum products during an operation in Bille, Rivers.
“In Odagba village, near Imo River, troops intercepted two wooden boats carrying over 5,000 litres of petroleum products, and confiscated two vehicles and four motorcycles abandoned by suspected oil thieves.
“The vehicles and motorcycles were found to contain over 28 sack bags containing 1,700 litres of stolen petroleum products,” he added.
According to the spokesman, in other operations at Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and Okrika in Rivers, soldiers destroyed three illegal refining sites.
“Also destroyed were four wooden boats and 10 metal tanks. We recovered over 6,000 litres of stolen petroleum products,” he said.
In Delta, the army spokesman disclosed that soldiers intercepted a wooden boat siphoning crude oil from Wellhead 8 at Okpoko Oil Field, Warri South Local Government Area. He said that during an operation in Ika North Local Government Area, troops arrested nine suspects and seized 2,000 liters of stolen crude oil.
“At Mbo, Akwa Ibom, our forces intercepted six drums containing 1,500 liters of petrol that were being smuggled to a neighboring country through the waterways.
“The suspects have been handed over to the relevant agencies for further investigations and possible prosecution,” he said.
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