Defence Headquarters has announced that troops of Operation Delta Safe, in the course of last week, discovered and destroyed at least 42 illegal refining sites and arrested 42 oil thieves, in the Niger Delta region.
Maj.Gen. Markus Kangye, Director, Defence Media Operations, made the announcement in a weekly report of ongoing military operations in the region on Thursday in Abuja.
Kangye, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, disclosed that the military had sustained operational tempo against crude oil thieves and other criminals in the Niger Delta during the week under review.
According to him, troops recovered 117,395 litres of stolen crude oil, 22,050 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, 6,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene and 8,060 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
The Defence Media Operations boss further disclosed that troops also discovered and destroyed 102 crude oil cooking ovens, 94 dugout pits, 18 boats, four speedboats, 56 storage tanks and 164 drums.
He listed other items recovered as including: pumping machines, drilling machines, galvanised pipes, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones and nine vehicles.
“Furthermore, 42 oil thieves and other criminals were arrested while assorted arms and ammunition were also recovered.” Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye.
“Between April 10 and April 14, troops, while conducting offensive operations, made contact with criminals in Southern Ijaw and Aniocha South Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Bayelsa and Delta, respectively.
“During the operations, troops arrested criminals and recovered arms and ammunition as well as large quantity of natural gas resources.
“Similarly, on April 11 and April 13, troops, acting on credible intelligence, arrested nine suspected vandals/kidnapers in Onelga and Ndoni LGAs of Rivers as well as Uvwie, Warri South and Aniocha South LGAs of Delta.
“They also effected arrest of five criminals in Ikom LGA of Cross River as well as Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa.”
