Army detains 15 suspects over oil theft in Niger Delta region

Because of suspected oil theft and illegal oil bunkering activities in the Niger Delta, Nigerian army troops have arrested at least 15 people.

The operations were recently conducted in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers, according to a statement released on Monday by Lt.-Col. Danjuma Danjuma, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division in Port Harcourt.

According to Danjuma, during operations, the army seized 14 boats, dismantled 32 artisanal refineries, and arrested 15 people.

He went on to say that the forces seized at least 60,000 liters of different petroleum products during the operations, which took place between January 6 and January 12.

The activities, according to the spokesman, were a part of a larger joint effort with other security agencies to fight oil theft in the Niger Delta.

According to Danjuma, the raid started in Bille, Degema Local Government Area, Rivers, where troops destroyed two boats, seized 20,000 liters of crude oil, and dismantled seven illegal refining installations.

Along the Imo River, we also retrieved over 19,000 liters of stolen petroleum products and shut down ten illegal refineries, receivers, and a number of crude oil cooking pots.

Three boats transporting over 12,000 liters of stolen crude oil were stopped by our forces near Odagwa, Etche, and three suspects were taken into custody.

“Abiama, Asa, Obuzor, Okoloma, Ozaa, Ukwa, and Oyigbo all saw similar operations,” he continued.

According to him, 1,600 liters of crude oil and 1,200 liters of tainted diesel were seized by the army as they advanced to Nkisa in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers.

According to Danjuma, the forces stopped a Toyota vehicle carrying an estimated 1,200 liters of stolen condensate along Ndoni Road.

In Buguma, Asari-Toru, Rivers, the forces demolished two illicit refineries, confiscated 1,500 liters of stolen crude oil, and arrested five individuals, according to the spokesman.

Our forces demolished an illicit artisanal refinery in Baberegbene, Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa, and stopped a wooden boat that was transporting at least 1,500 liters of stolen crude oil.

Read Also: Lakurawa murders three Airtel employees, another at construction site in Kebb

Similarly, in the towns of Emago-Kugbo and Oluasiri in Nembe, Bayelsa, an illicit refining facility that contained an unknown amount of stolen petroleum products was shut down.

“The operations proceeded in Delta and Akwa Ibom, where troops kept a close presence and successfully prevented economic saboteurs from operating freely,” he stated.