…Troops Destroy 36 Illegal Refining Sites in Niger Delta
Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
The Defence Headquarters yesterday disclosed that troops of Operation Delta Safe destroyed 36 illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta region of the country last week, in a renewed attempt to sustain the momentum against crude oil theft in the region.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, warned that as perpetrators of crude oil theft had refused to give up their illegal acts, troops, and other security agencies would continue to hunt them.
He said troops of the joint task force discovered and destroyed 61 dugout pits, 32 wooden boats, 87 storage tanks, three vehicles, 126 cooking ovens, three outboard engines, one speedboat, two motorcycles, one generator, two pumping machines.
He disclosed that troops also recovered 310,700 litres of crude oil, 14,675 litres of diesel, 49,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosine, one weapon, three ammunition and apprehended 22 suspects engaged in crude oil theft.
He said one of the operations was conducted on July 24, 2023, at Wellhead Cluster Opukushi Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State where troops on anti-illegal bunkering operations intercepted and destroyed one wooden boat loaded with 1000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil.
