Troops bust unlawful bunkering hubs, get better nearly half 1,000,000 litres of stolen merchandise

Troops of the Nigerian Military, in collaboration with different safety companies, have uncovered and dismantled a number of huge unlawful bunkering hubs, recovering over 591,000 litres of stolen petroleum merchandise throughout the Niger Delta area.

Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, appearing Deputy Director, 6 Division, Military Public Relations, disclosed in an announcement that the troops additionally arrested 36 suspected oil thieves.

The assertion famous that in Rivers State, troops found and traced a hose spanning over 15 kilometres, linked to an unlawful loading level across the Orashi Sport Reserve-Okolomade space in Abua-Odual Native Authorities Space, LGA.

“In a follow-up operation, 5 unlawful refining websites with a big metallic tank containing over 350,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Fuel Oil, AGO, have been dealt with according to the subsisting operational mandate.

“These have been along with massive ovens, with a large dugout full of over 100,000 litres of stolen crude, dealt with appropriately. A number of objects, together with a pumping machine, borehole, electrical cables and sockets, have been recovered on the scene,” the assertion stated.

On the fringes of the infamous Imo River, troops destroyed seven unlawful refining websites, confiscated 1,428 luggage of stolen merchandise—estimated to be over 21,500 litres of crude—demobilised 5 boats used within the illicit enterprise, and destroyed 38 drum pots and fifteen drum receivers.

In an analogous operation, troops intercepted a truck with registration quantity EFR 302 XA at Elelenwa, Eleme LGA, loaded with 20,000 litres of stolen merchandise. At Otokolomabie and Coconut Property in Bonny LGA, following actionable intelligence, troops found a Pureputt boat hidden within the creeks, full of over 10,000 litres of stolen merchandise.

At Okarki Forest in Ahoada West LGA, an unlawful refining web site comprising an oven, a waste receiver pit, and a 50-metre-long hose was destroyed.

In Bayelsa State, troops intercepted a DAF XF380 tanker truck with registration quantity ABM 210 XA (Rivers State), loaded with 45,000 litres of stolen AGO. Three suspected oil thieves have been apprehended alongside the automobile. Moreover, in a creek between Oyeregbene and Babragbene communities in Southern Ijaw LGA, a picket boat loaded with over 1,000 litres of stolen crude was found hid within the waterway.

Likewise, in Akwa Ibom State, appearing on credible intelligence, troops intercepted a tanker truck with registration quantity DAM 97 XA, suspected to be conveying over 16,500 litres of stolen crude at Ring Street 2 in Uyo LGA. The motive force deserted the automobile and fled on sighting the troops.

In Delta State, round Ovrogbor waterside in Isoko South LGA, troops pursued two Toyota Camry autos with registration numbers WWR 542 AJ and GB JI 70 AA. The autos have been intercepted at Ada-Inri neighborhood and located to be loaded with over 1,250 litres of illegally refined AGO. On the Egbokodo normal space in Warri South LGA, 38 sacks full of over 1,175 litres of stolen crude have been found hidden within the bush.

Troops conducting snap checks within the Koka normal space of Oshimili South LGA intercepted a Honda automobile with registration quantity AAA 289 BM. A radical search of the automobile revealed two domestically fabricated pistols, a cutlass, cartridges, and the sum of N25, 100.

All suspects arrested have been handed over to the related authorities for prosecution, whereas all seizures have been processed according to the operational mandate.