The Nigerian Army has discovered 11 new illegal oil bunkering sites and confiscated various petroleum products during a six-day operation in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states.
This was revealed in a statement issued on Monday in Port Harcourt by Lt.-Col. Danjuma Danjuma, spokesperson for the Army’s 6 Division. He confirmed that seven individuals were apprehended in connection with the operation.
During the raids, troops recovered 13,600 litres of stolen crude oil, 4,890 litres of adulterated diesel, and 37,700 litres of other unidentified petroleum products.
In Rivers State, soldiers targeted the Imo River area, where they found six illegal refineries and seized around 11,000 litres of stolen fuel. They also dismantled 41 drum pots, 18 drum receivers, and 540 sacks filled with illicit petroleum products. The troops successfully prevented further attempts to rebuild the illegal facilities.
Elsewhere in Ahoada West, troops stopped two Toyota Camry vehicles transporting over 1,300 litres of illegally processed diesel. Additionally, in Krakrama Wellhead 12, Bille (Degema), seven individuals were caught attempting to vandalize an oil facility. A search of the area led to the recovery of three wooden boats containing over 1,500 litres of stolen crude oil.
In Delta State, the army intercepted 25,200 litres of an unknown petroleum substance and 10,000 litres of stolen crude oil from two tankers, a truck, and a bus on the Koko-Obitigbo Road. Another 3,350 litres of adulterated diesel were discovered at Oton-Urakpa in Sapele, stored in 100 cellophane bags.
Items such as three empty drums, two ovens, a metallic tank, as well as pipes and hoses used for siphoning were also found.
In Bayelsa State, troops dismantled four illegal refineries in the Biseni and Okordia areas of Yenagoa, recovering about 2,100 litres of stolen crude oil and another 1,500 litres of illegally obtained products.
In Akwa Ibom, soldiers seized 240 litres of illegally refined diesel packed in eight jerrycans during a patrol on the Okobo-Uyo Road.
Danjuma concluded by noting that all the suspects have been handed over to the appropriate security agencies for further investigation and potential prosecution.
