Troops of the Nigerian Army stationed in the Niger Delta have uncovered and dismantled large storage facilities containing over 200,000 litres of illegally refined crude oil products in Bayelsa and Rivers States.
Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah, revealed this in a statement on Thursday, noting that the operation aims to combat economic sabotage.
He mentioned that troops also intercepted trucks carrying stolen crude oil in Delta State, further disrupting the illegal oil trade.
In Bayelsa State, troops discovered an illegal refining site at Dasaba Creek, which included an oven and a metal reservoir containing over 110,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
In Rivers State, they found over 33,000 litres being siphoned into a tank from the Indorama (Eleme Petrochemicals) pipeline.
The operation, meticulously carried out by the troops, led to the recovery of various items used in the illegal activities, such as pumping machines, hoses, and drums.
Additionally, troops from the 63 Brigade intercepted trucks carrying over 30,000 litres of stolen products in Delta State.
Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma added that four suspects have been arrested and will be handed over to the relevant authorities for prosecution.
“These successes highlight the renewed efforts by our troops to effectively clamp down on economic saboteurs and their collaborators,” he stated.