The 6 division of the Nigerian Army says its troops have recovered about 238,500 litres of stolen crude oil in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states.
Danjuma Danjuma, the division’s spokesperson, who spoke in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers, on Thursday, said the troops recovered the crude oil from trucks and illegal refining sites in the three states.
Danjuma added that five suspects apprehended in the process would soon be prosecuted.
“These seizures are part of ongoing efforts to combat oil theft and illegal bunkering of petroleum products in the Niger Delta,” he said.
“More than 33,000 litres of crude oil, two pumping machines, a long hose, and eleven drums used for the crime were recovered from the site.”
Danjuma said about 110,000 litres of crude oil stored in an oven and a massive metal reservoir were also discovered at an illegal refining site along Dasaba Creek in Bayelsa.
He noted that troops of the 16 brigade intercepted a truck conveying 30,000 litres of stolen crude oil on Elebele-Emeyal road, Ogbia.
He added that the 63 brigade troops also seized 30,000 litres of crude oil from a truck during a routine patrol in Mosogar, Delta state.
“At Cawthorne Channel 1, troops, collaborating with other security agencies, deactivated an illegal refining site containing more than 5,500 litres of crude oil,” he added.
“The site is located near Well Head 8, behind Glisten community in Degema local government area of Rivers.
“These discoveries are the result of our renewed efforts to clamp down on economic saboteurs.
“We urge the public to provide security agencies with reliable intelligence to track down oil thieves and economic saboteurs.”
