Troops destroy 39 illegal refineries, recover stolen crude in Niger Delta

Troops of Operation Delta Safe have, in the last two weeks, uncovered and destroyed 39 illegal refining sites, 91 cooking ovens, 24 reservoirs, 17 large dugout pits and 96 storage tanks.

The troops have also neutralised no fewer than 37 suspected terrorists and arrested 17 others.

Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Benard Onyeuko, who made the disclosure, yesterday, at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, said a total of 637,500 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil and 950,000 litres of stolen crude oil were recovered in the course of the operations.

“In addition, 10 criminals associated with pipeline vandalism, piracy, illegal oil bunkering and armed robbery were arrested within the period. Also, troops recovered assorted arms, 48 rounds of ammunition, 2 AK-47 rifle magazines, as well as 17 pieces of galvanised pipes and 23 wooden boats, among other items used for illegal oil bunkering activities in the course of the operations.

“All the arrested criminals and recovered items have been handed over to relevant security agencies for further action,” he said.

Some of these operations, Onyeuko said, were executed at different locations in villages, creeks and towns in Emohua, Ikwere, Port Harcourt and Ahoada councils of Rivers State.

Other locations are villages, towns and creeks in Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North councils of Delta State as well as in Ekeremor, Brass and Southern Ijaw councils of Bayelsa State.

Also, operations were conducted at Opobo creek and some communities in Mbo council of Akwa Ibom State as well as Ukwa West council of Abia State, which yielded significant results within the period under review.

In Operation HADIN KAI, he said troops conducted various land and air operations in different locations of the theatre with renewed vigour that recorded significant results in the last two weeks.

“Some of the operations were conducted at different locations in towns, villages and forests under Konduga, Mafa, Dikwa, Gwoza, Bama, Bayo, Kukawa, Monguno, Nganzai and Damboa councils of Borno as well as locations in the Sambisa forest. Troops also recorded significant results at various locations in Adamawa and Yobe states, around the Mandara Mountain and along Damaturu-Potiskum road, respectively.”

“Notably, ground troops with the support of the Air Component aggressively foiled terrorists’ attempted infiltration into Biu town in Borno State. During the encounter, troops neutralised scores of terrorists and captured their gun trucks and other weapons,” he said.