By ZAKAA LAZARUS-Abuja.
Troops of 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army in conjunction with other security agencies have sustained the onslaught against illegal refining sites, located along the fringes of River Niger, bordering Ndokwa East and Ndoni Local Government Areas(LGAs) of Delta and Rivers States respectively.
The operations, according to Acting Deputy Director,
6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah said was conducted following credible intelligence on the monumental level of criminality going on in the area.
In a statement issued by Lt. Colonel Jonah revealed that during the operation, several items were confiscated and destroyed. These include eight(8) cooking pots, three(3) storage tanks, three(3) massive storage dugouts as well as Twelve(12) feeders.
“Others include three(3) cooking drums, an extensive network of pipes and hoses, and over two thousand(2,000) litres of crude in a metallic oven, among others.
“While combing the general area to effectively deny the criminal elements freedom of action, troops confiscated Two(2) wooden boats, loaded with condensates estimated to be over Ten Thousand (10,000) litres abandoned by the fleeing criminals in the creeks.
” The boats have been handled in line with the mandate of Operation DELTA SAFE in the region.
“In Rivers State, troops of 5 Battalion arrested eight(8) suspects, along Orashi River, Obiafu in Onne LGA.
“The suspects were arrested with motorcycles conveying condensates estimated to be over Two Thousand(2,000) litres.
” Relatedly, troops of 29 Battalion while maintaining vigilance at Imo River identified and destroyed Nine(9) more illegal refining sites. The sites housed over Fifteen Thousand(15,000) litres of illegally refined products. The suspects have been handed over to relevant agency for prosecution.
“Members of the public, particularly the adjoining communities where these criminalities thrives, are enjoined to report the criminal activities going on in their domain to security agencies. More worrisome is the environmental hazards the activities of these criminals constitute in the region.” The statement added.
