The Defence Headquarters has disclosed that no fewer than seven suspected oil thieves have been arrested and barrels of stolen crude oil recovered with numbers of illegal refineries in the South- South and South West zones destroyed by the military.
As stated, the feat was in line with the military intensified aggressive fight against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, bunkering, economic saboteurs and other criminal activities across the country.
The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, said that the operations were carried out between Sept. 12 and Sept. 17 in the South- South and South West geopolitical zones.
Briefing newsmen while giving weekly update on the operations of Armed Forces of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja, Enenche said that the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder patrol team in the South South located and immobilised an illegal refining site at Mudukiri Creek, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers.
“The site had a metal reservoir laden with an estimated 150,000 litres of illegally refined AGO. In the same vein, Forward Operating Base BONNY patrol team discovered and dismantled an illegal refining site in Ataba, Andoni LGA of Rivers.
“The team discovered eight metal storage tanks and four dugout pits laden with about 1,289.45 barrels of product suspected to be stolen crude oil,” he said.
He said that Nigerian Navy Ship Jubile clearance operation team acting on credible intelligence on a suspected pirates and sea robber’s camp at Otoyo, Akwa-Ibom, raided the camp and that the patrol team with superior power dislodged and deactivated the camp in the area.
“The team recovered one AK 47 rifle with two magazines, two Pump Action Rifles, 20 rounds of 7.62 and 39mm ammunition, one Fishing Gun, one Tecno phone, a bag of hard drugs, one diving face mask and one hand held metal detector.
“ Between Sept. 12 and Sept. 17, Forward Operating Base IBAKA patrol team around Utan Inyata Creek arrested two suspects and two small-sized wooden boats laden with 165 bags of 50kg of foreign parboiled rice suspected to be smuggled from the Republic of Cameroon,”he said.
According to him, the items and suspects are currently in custody of the Base and will be handed over to Nigeria Customs Service Component of Operation Swift Response for further action.
“Also, within the period under review, Forward Operating Base IBAKA patrol team arrested five suspects with 45 drums of products suspected to be Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
“The suspects and items are currently in custody and will be handed over to NSCDC Uyo Command for further necessary action,” he said.
He explained that Troops of Operation Awatse in the South West zone, also intensified the fight against pipeline vandals, economic saboteurs and other criminal elements in the area.
According to him, on Sept 11, Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft handed over MT SEA SUPPLY and her crew to NIMASA after proper documentation in line with the existing Standard Operating Procedure.
He recalled that the vessel and her crew members were arrested on July 31 for sailing without obtaining requisite documents.
“On Sept. 12, the patrol team of Forward Operating Base IGBOKODA immobilized three illegal refineries containing 30,000 litres of illegally refined AGO at Agbelemsema Zion 2.
“The location is a border community between Ese Odo Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo and Warri North LGA in Delta.
“Troops have continued to dominate the general area with clearance and aggressive patrols while maintaining surveillance to rid the area of pipeline vandals and other economic saboteurs,” he said.
