Troops recover arms, deactivate boats, confiscate stolen products in Niger Delta

Troops of 6th Division Nigerian Army in conjunction with other security agencies have scaled up the ongoing anti-illegal oil bunkering operations across the Niger Delta region.

In the latest achievements, troops recovered arms and ammunitions, deactivated 46 illegal refining sites, 47 boats used to ferry stolen products across the treacherous terrain, arrested 28 oil thieves with over 95,000 litres of stolen products recovered.

In a statement issued by the acting Deputy Director 6th Division Army Public Relations, Lt Col Danjuma Jonah Danjuma and made available to newsmen said these were in addition to other strangulation operations targeted at crippling the criminal network of cartels in the region. The operations which were conducted from 11-17 November 2024 recorded several operational successes.

“In Rivers state, following credible intelligence on the activities of economic saboteurs along Oando pipeline in Ebocha, New base in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area Area (ONELGA), troops swiftly mobilised to the area.

“On reaching the spot, troops encountered armed vandals, who opened fire on troops. In the fire fight that ensued, the criminals who were overwhelmed by superior fire, flee in disarray. Further exploitation of the general area led to the recovery of one AK 47 riffle, one magazine loaded with 17 rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition abandoned by the fleeing armed vandals.

“Relatedly, several successful operations were conducted in the region. Around Obiafu – Ndoni, large wooden boats were intercepted conveying over 472 sacks of stolen crude estimated to be 28,320 litres.

“Seven suspected oil thieves have been arrested in connection to the heinous crime. Several operations were also conducted around Buguma general area in Asari Toru LGA, which led to the dismantling of numerous illegal refining sites, deactivation of several boats as well as the recovery of over 9,500 litres of stolen products.

“Operations were also conducted around Tuma and Krakrama general areas in Degema LGA with a number of wooden and fibre boats destroyed and over 10,500 litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) confiscated. At Bille also in Degema LGA, a wooden boat, with two drums hidden inside the creek, stocked with over 2,500 litres of stolen products was intercepted.

“Similarly, at Obiafu Oil field, troops discovered over 7,000 litres of stolen products in a holding facility. While, at the Imo River stretch, clearance operations were conducted with over 16 wooden/fibre boats destroyed, 15 illegal refining sites taken out, 41 coking drums, 25 container receivers, several pumping machines as well as over 12,000 litres of stolen products recovered.

“There were several operations also conducted around Utukuna in Omoku and Obiafu Otuwa at ONELGA with over 13,000 litres of stolen products seized and suspected oil thieves arrested.”