Army Nabs 29 Suspects, Shuts Down 42 Illegal Refinery Sites
Twenty-nine suspects involved in illegal oil bunkering have been arrested by troops of the 6 Division of the Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt, in military operations that led to the shutting down of about 42 illegal refining sites in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states.
A statement issued by the Assistant Director of Public Relations of the division, Lt. Colonel Danjuma Jonah, said the operations, which were conducted from 9th to 15th December 2024, resulted in the deactivation of illegal refining sites, arrest of the suspected oil thieves and confiscation of about 197,000 litres of stolen products.
Lt Colonel Jonah said in the process, the troops demobilised 32 boats, 12 vehicles and eight motorcycles used for economic sabotage in the Niger Delta region adding that in Bayelsa alone, four illegal refining sites were deactivated in Biseni Forest, while recovering over 37,000 litres of stolen crude.
According to him, similar operations in Benkrukru and other areas also led to the seizure of more stolen crude and products, including over 5,000 litres of water-laden crude in Sabasuo, and 1,000 litres in Igbomotoru Creek.
He said in the Rivers State operations, three illegal refining sites and boats with 30,000 litres of stolen crude were intercepted in Kula, and additional sites in Bille and along the Imo River led to the recovery of thousands of litres of stolen products, including equipment used for illegal refining.
