Oil Theft: Troops Dismantles 63 Bunkering Sites, Arrest 7 Suspects
•By Our Reporter
PORT HARCOURT – In consolidating the ongoing war against illegal oil bunkering operations in the Niger Delta, troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have dismantled 63 oil bunkering sites, arresting seven suspected oil thieves and seizing 280,000 litres of stolen crude.
The troops, acting on credible intelligence, also intercepted a large wooden boat in the process of illegally siphoning crude from a barge at NNPC flow station, estimated to be over 198,000 litres, around Cawthorne Channel I, general area in Rivers State.
A statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations on Sunday evening, disclosed that efforts were on to track and round up fleeing members of the criminal syndicate.
Danjuma noted that while the troops were on clearance operations in Rivers State and neighbouring Abia State, combed the fringes of Imo River, and uncovered four illegal connection points at Isimiri and Obiakpu villages, in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.
He noted that at Owaza and Uzuaku villages in Ukwa South LGA of Abia state, two illegal connection points were isolated and clamped by oil companies, while one illegal refining site, one dugout two reservoirs, wooden boat with over 3,000 illegally refined products were confiscated in the areas.
Lt. Col. Danjuma identified Okoloma, Obuzor, Oyigbo, Umuagbai, Afam and Obeakpu, as communities thriving in illegal oil bunkering, with over 42 active sites, adding that over 13,000 litres of stolen crude handled appropriately, while other seizures such as wooden boats and cooking pots were destroyed.
He stated that at Alakiri in Okrika LGA, four active illegal refining sites, 2 ovens and two reservoirs and storage tanks were destroyed, as items including one pumping machine, one 500 meters long hose, two coolants as well as one massive tarpaulin storage with over 29,000 litres of stolen crude were handled accordingly.
The army spokesperson further disclosed that troops intercepted a vehicle loaded with several sacks of products suspected to be condensates along Omoku Elele road, while four illegal refining sites, eight cooking ovens, seven reservoirs, one shelter were destroyed, while over 4,000 litres of stolen products was recovered in Bukuma and Buguma in Asari Toru LGA of Rivers State.
Speaking further, he disclosed that six ovens and eight reservoirs were destroyed at Odagwa around the swampy Adaobi village in Etche LGA of Rivers State, as same feat was replicated at Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, where one active illegal refining site was destroyed and over 2,000 product confiscated.
He explained that around EGI III in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA of Rivers State, three reservoirs with over 1000 litres of stolen crude were handled, while 24 empty drums suspected to be used for the storage of stolen locally refined crude oil were recovered.
Danjuma noted that the troops in the same vein while conducting operations along Igbomtoru pipeline in Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa state, uncovered two illegal refining sites, destroying two wooden boats with over 3,500 litres of stolen crude.
In Tana-Gbene and Abala-Kiri, Southern Ijaw LGA, troops uncovered one active Illegal refining site was destroyed, with over 1,000 stolen products, while at the general area of Lagos-Gbene in Southern Ijaw, three active illegal refining sites were dismantled with over 2,000 products confiscated.
Likewise, at Kaiama Community in Kolokuma/Okpokuma LGA, troops discovered over 1400 litres of illegally refined products in a residential building belonging to one Mr Emmanuel Okpara, arresting the suspected culprits and handing them over to the prosecuting agency.
For Delta State, the troops effectively thwarted a failed attempt to vandalise a gas pipeline at Okpai community in Ndokwa West LGA, belonging to SEEPCO, while In Warri South LGA, troops destroyed one active illegal refining site, five cooking pots, five ovens, one long hose as well as confiscated over 10,000 stolen crude.
Lt. Col. Danjuma quoted the General Officer Commnading, 6 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, to have appreciated the troops for the renewed force posture, expressing optimism that no criminality would be allowed to thrive in the region, as troops are poised to create an enabling environment for exploration activities by oil companies to take place unhindered.
He urged the troops to sustain the pressure on oil thieves and associated crime in the region.
•INDEPENDENTNG.