By ZAKAA LAZARUS, Abuja
Troops of Operation Delta Safe has, operating in the Niger Delta region have dismantled over 43 illegal oil bunkering hubs, arrested 19 economic saboteurs and confiscated over 260,000 litres of stolen products in Niger Delta region.
In addition, over Eleven vehicles, 21 boats as well as eleven motorcycles used for stealing crude were demobilised.
While consolidating on the ongoing operations in Rivers State, troops dismantled seven active illegal refining hubs around Abesa and Kula general area in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area (LGA). This led to the confiscation of over 60,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
Similar operation was conducted around Cawthorne Channel 1 and Bille general area, which led to the destruction of several illegal bunkering havens, three fibre boats, five wooden boats as well as the recovery of over 41,000 litres of stolen products.
Similarly, In Buguma Creeks, four active illegal refining hubs, eight large cooking pots, massive receivers/reservoirs, three local boats stocked with over 12,500 litres of stolen products were handled appropriately.
Several wooden boats with over 10,000 litres of stolen products were intercepted around Odagwa, Akwa, Oza West, Oyigbo,Obozur and Ayama general areas.
Additionally, several vehicles were intercepted along Obikrom and Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA. Also, at Ogbonga Forest, Six illegal refining hubs with a massive dump stocked with over 10,000 litres of crude was handled inline with operational mandate.
Other items deactivated included one big storage tank, three fibre boats, eight drums as well as one pumping machine. Likewise two illegal refining sites were destroyed along Choba Aluu waterways in Ikwerre LGA.
In Akwa Ibom State, troops intercepted two tankers with over 96,000 litres along Okopedi Atai road at Ikot Abasi LGA. Relatedly, troops intercepted three Toyota Camry’s with Reg Nos KTU 623 DS, KJA 273 EM and AKD 233 ED conveying stolen AGO along Ikot Abasi – Port Harcourt road. The drivers abandoned the vehicles To vehicles were unlocked and over 5,400 litres of stolen products were recovered.
In Delta State, a tanker truck loaded with 45,000 litres of stolen products was intercepted. The occupants took to their heels on approaching a military check point.
Troops also intercepted two tanker trucks, three pumping machines, several hoses used for receiving products from a barge immersed in waters at Willis Jetty opposite Delta line in Enerhen general area. This was in addition to several vehicles intercepted with stolen products at Enwe and Igbide communities in Isoko South LGA.
The operations in Bayelsa State led to the interception of a vehicle with Reg No NSH 168 ZF along side three suspects with 24 sacks containing over 1,500 litres of stolen AGO along Elebele – Emeyal road in Ogbia LGA. Also, around Sangana River in Southern Ijaw, a suspected dump used for the storage of stolen products was destroyed. At Ashawo Fish Camp also along Sangana River three suspects were arrested with a pumping machine and unqualified litres of stolen crude.
While commending troops for the successes recorded, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam urged them to sustain the tempo in order to clear the region of economic saboteurs.
This, he maintained will pave way for increase in oil production in Nigeria.
