Military deactivates 56 illegal refining sites in 1 week

Troops of Operation Delta Safe have continued to sustain the fight against activities of crude oil thieves in the Niger Delta, destroying 56 illegal refining sites in one week.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, disclosed this in the weekly report of the ongoing military operations across the area, in Abuja on Friday.

Kangye said the troops also recovered 675,266 litres of stolen crude oil, 312,593 litres of illegally refined AGO and 4,500 litres of DPK within one week.

He added that the troops also discovered and destroyed 51 crude oil cooking ovens, 49 dugout pits, 43 boats, 28 storage tanks and 131 drums.

According to him, other items recovered include four pumping machines, four tricycles, three motorcycles, seven mobile phones and eight vehicles.

“Additionally, 31 oil thieves and other criminals were arrested, 103 assorted arms and ammunition as well as three extra magazines were also recovered among others,” he said.

Kangye said the troops had between March 5 and March 10, apprehended 11 suspected criminals and rescued four kidnapped victims in Bakassi and Onelga Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Cross River and Rivers States, as well as Warri South, Sapele Uvwie and Ughelli areas of Delta.

He added that the Air Component conducted patrols and air reconnaissance missions over Imo River, Owaza, Ohaji/Egbema and Abacheke general areas, as well as Nembe, Okpokiri, Tomkiri, Brass and Belema axis.

These missions, according to him, aided successes in destruction of illegal refining sites, boats, vehicles and tricycles among other equipment.