Oil theft: Troops confiscate 130,000 litres of stolen products, arrest suspects

Nigerian Army says troops of 6 Division, working closely with other security agencies, have continued to sustain the operational gains recorded against oil thieves in the Niger Delta region.

Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director,
6 Division Army Public Relations, in a statement, said troops dismantled 37 illegal refining sites, six boats, arrested ten suspected oil thieves, and recovered over 130,000 litres of stolen products.

It said in Rivers State, around Obiafu, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA) LGA, a cluster of 9 illegal refining sites, with 176 cooking drums and several pumping machines were destroyed, adding that two mobile phones, several locally constructed dumps, stocked with over 60,000 litres of stolen products were confiscated.

According to the statement, the confiscated items included about 50,000 litres of stolen crude, 5,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 6,250 litres of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK).

Four oil thieves were said to have been arrested during the raid.

“In Buguma general area in Asari-Toru LGA, three illegal refining sites, a large boat was also deactivated with over 24,000 litres of stolen products recovered.

“Meanwhile, around Bille and Bakana general areas in Degema LGA, three illegal refining sites, two wooden and one fibre boats, were intercepted with over 6,000 and 5,000 litres of stolen crude, as well as 5,000 litres of illegally refined DPK recovered.

“At Ozorchi Forest in Abua/Odual, four illegal refining sites with over 10,000 litres of stolen products were handled.

“Clearance operations conducted along Imo River led to the deactivation of 8 illegal refining sites, 50 drum pots, 65 metal container receivers, as well as over 5,000 litres of stolen products recovered,” the statement added.

It said in separate operations conducted in Bayelsa State, around Kunsho Creek in Southern Ijaw, one illegal refining site with 2,000 litres of stolen crude were handled, adding that at Kumbo 4 Flow line in Ekeremor LGA, troops thwarted an attempt to compromise Shell Petroleum Development Company pipeline.

The vandals fled and abandoned 18 inches pipes and three gas cylinders at the site.

“In Delta State, troops intercepted a tanker truck positioned to siphon crude oil from Platform Petroleum Limited Pipeline at Obiukwole community in Ethiope East LGA.

“A blue hose laid into the bush linking the pipeline to the tanker truck in preparation to steal was discovered by troops.

“In addition, four suspected oil thieves were arrested at the scene.

“In Akwa Ibom, troops have continued to dominate both the hinterland and waterways to ward off criminal activities in the state,” he further stated.