Oil Theft: Troops Arrest 29 Suspects, Confiscate 197,000 Litres of Stolen Products

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt 

In a bid to tackle the challenges of economic sabotage, troops of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, weekend,deactivated 42 illegal crude oil refining sites and arrested 29 suspected oil thieves in Niger Delta region.
The troops also confiscated 197,000 litres of stolen products and demobilised 32 boats, 12 vehicles and eight motorcycles used for economic sabotage in the region.
In a statement, yesterday, Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations, Danjuma Jonah, said the achievements was recorded between December 9 to 15, 2024.
“Troops conducted several operations in Bayelsa State. Around Biseni Forest in Yenagoa Local Government Area, four newly established illegal refining sites were deactivated with about 37,000 litres of stolen crude recovered,” he said.
He said the feat was also replicated at Benkrukru, around Oando Wellhead in Okordia forest in Yenagoa LGA, where newly established illegal refining sites with about 29,900 and 2,000 illegally refined crude and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), were recovered. 
In another development, at Olukama and Sabasuo areas in Nembe LGA, an Illegal refining site, with a wooden boat ladened with over 5,000 litres of water stolen crude were handled appropriately. 
At Igbomotoru Creek in Southern Ijaw, a wooden boat hidden inside the Creek with over 1,000 litres of stolen crude was recovered.
Danjuma continued: “Operations were conducted in Rivers State, which spurred successes. Around Kula in Akuku-Toru LGA, three illegal refining sites, one wooden and five fibre boats were intercepted with over 30,000 litres of stolen crude. 
“In a similar vein, at Bille in Degema LGA, two illegal refining sites, two wooden boats with about 4,000 litres of stolen crude were recovered. Along the Imo River, 13 illegal refining sites, 73 drum pots, 40 drum receivers, eleven metal container receivers as well as over 28,500 litres of stolen products were handled.” 
He said seizures were made along Elele-Omoku road, Obiafo, Ododa and Ogbogolo Communities in Abual/Odual LGA, Alesa in Eleme LGA, Odagwa – Imo River in Etche LGA and Coconut Estate in Bonny Island LGA,  amongst several other localities