In the Niger Delta, troops from the Nigerian Army's 6 Division have demolished four illicit refineries, detained 28 suspected oil thieves, and seized over 290,000 liters of stolen goods in cooperation with other security agencies.  

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, verified the occurrence.  

According to Danjuma, two wooden boats carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were stopped by the operatives at Okrika in the Okrika Local Government Area while they were unloading the goods from a ship at a dock.

He added that a wooden boat carrying more than 5,000 liters of stolen goods was also discovered in the region, and that two boats were also stopped at Okrika, one of which was carrying more than 33,000 liters of stolen goods at a wharf there.  

The troops stormed the area after receiving a tip about illegal oil bunkering activities near a pipeline after Sterling Global Company Road, Akpabo, at Elele Alimini in Emohua LGA, and seized a tanker with the registration number Rivers JJN 287 ZU as it was leaving the pipeline right of way, Danjuma said.  

He verified that two suspects, the driver and his motor boy, had been arrested and stated that it was thought that the vehicle had carried around 90,000 liters of stolen goods from the location.

He added that the army had retrieved more than 2,600 liters of illegally processed Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) from Okolomade in Abua/Odual LGA.  

According to Danjuma, the army deactivated two illegal refining plants along the Imo River and confiscated over 2,500 liters of stolen crude in Obuzor, Asa Asa, in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State, along with three drum pots and three receivers.  

Six individuals were detained in relation to the seizures, he added, noting that two wooden boats were stopped at the Orashi River waterside and that more than 700 liters of Dual Purpose Kerosene were found inside.

Source