Military intensifies efforts against crude oil theft, deactivates 53 illegal refining sites
The Defence Headquarters has announced the deactivation of 53 illegal refining sites, the recovery of stolen products and the apprehension of 19 suspected oil thieves by the troops of Operation Delta Safe.
The operation was carried out for one week, and the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Thursday about the Armed Forces operations across the country.
Buba said the troops had been able to sustain momentum against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
He also stated that the troops discovered and destroyed 54 dugout pits, 66 boats, 138 storage tanks, 253 cooking ovens, two pumping machines, eight speedboats, 17 hoses, 18 drums and two cylinders.
The troops, according to Buba, also recovered 983,350 litres of stolen crude oil, 144,980 litres of illegally refined AGO and 71,650 litres of DPK.
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Other achievements by the military during the operation included the neutralisation of one criminal, the rescue of three hostages, and the recovery of one fabricated rifle, 18 vehicles, and one torchlight.
Regarding South East operations, the troops of Operation UDO KA conducted a snap operation and arrested suspected IPOB/ESN in Ikwo and Okigwe Local Government Areas of Ebonyi and Imo States during the week.
The troops reportedly neutralised five terrorists, arrested 12 suspected criminals and rescued seven kidnapped hostages.
Buba revealed that the military had discovered and busted some of the criminal ‘safe havens’ across the country, where criminals such as terrorists had been hiding.
He stated that the military had identified several of these safe havens and was operating to ensure that they were entirely dismantled.
The defence spokesman also said the military had invaded one of such hideouts in the Southeast and found unspeakable and unprintable activities going on in the invaded camps, proving that the militants were cannibals and carrying out other dastardly acts.
“All recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action,” Buba noted.
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