By ZAKAA LAZARUS, Abuja
Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army in conjunction with other security agencies have sustained the crackdown posture against illegal oil bunkering and associated crimes in the Niger Delta Region.
In the preceding week, Eleven suspects were arrested, over 20 illegal bunkering sanctuaries deactivated and 22 boats used for the criminality were intercepted.
Additionally, 6 arms of various calibres and cartridges were recovered with over 118,000 litres of stolen products handled appropriately in various operations conducted across the region.
In the operations conducted in Rivers State, troops effectively denied the economic saboteurs freedom of action.
In Jigama, Bille general area, Degema LGA, troops effectively deactivated 4 active artisanal refineries, 3 wooden boats and recovered over 35,000 litres of stolen products.
Relatedly, in Krakarma, Bille general area, Degema LGA 4 active illegal refining sites, 3 fibre as well as 2 wooden boats were destroyed with over 14,000 litres of stolen automative gas oil and 8,000 stolen crude recovered. At Orashi River, 2 wooden boats with over 5,500 litres of condensates were intercepted.
This was in addition to one suspect arrested in connection to the act of vandalizing the pipeline behind Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Gas Plant in Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema LGA (ONELGA).
Along Obiafu Ndoni and Kreigani all in ONELGA, troops intercepted several vehicles loaded with stolen products.
In Bayelsa State, around Okokokiri general area, in Nembe LGA, one illegal refining site, 2 massive metal tanks, with reservoirs were deactivated with over 30,000 litres of stolen products recovered.
Also, Diebu Creek in Southern Ijaw LGA (SILGA), 2 active illegal refining site, 3 drums, 5 boats with over 4,500 litres of stolen products were confiscated.
