The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major-General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, at the weekend paid an operational visit to the Imo River stretch, to have an on-the-spot assessment of the illegal bunkering activities going on in that corridor.
This is as troops of the division arrested 12 crude oil thieves and confiscated various illegal bunkering facilities and several thousand of liters of stolen oil products.
The GOC’s visit took him through the entire stretch of the Imo River through the waterways and deep into the adjoining creeks and rivulets.
Major-General Emekah visited illegal bunkering havens, around Afam, Obeama and Umuori Creek all in Obigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State as well as Asa waterways in Abia State. These places were known for their notoriety in illegal bunkering activities.
A statement by the Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant-Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said that during the visit, the GOC “ordered all life-supporting structures and several illegal refining sites be taken out in those identified sites.”
The statement added that the GOC enjoined the troops to comb the entire stretch, with the adjoining forests and ensure they destroyed all illegal refining sites.
Lieutenant-Colonel Danjuma stated that troops in conjunction with other security agencies, conducted several operations across the Niger Delta Region (NDR) February 10 and 16 that led to the arrest of 12 suspected oil thieves, deactivation of 25 illegal refining sites, demobilisation of 18 boats used for criminality with over 95,000 litres of stolen crude recovered in addition to other ancillary equipment destroyed at the sites.
“In Rivers State, troops on routine night patrol intercepted a 45,000 litres capacity DAF truck with multiple number plates, stealing crude on Trans Niger Pipeline 36 inches row. The criminals fled and abandoned the truck on sighting troops.
“Additionally, on Odagwa – Imo River stretch in Etche Local Government Area, troops intercepted two wooden boats ladened with over 20,000 litres of stolen crude. Also, around Ndoni in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, troops discovered three illegal bunkering dump sites with over 3,420 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO), stored in sacks with two hoses recovered. Two suspected oil thieves were apprehended in connection with the crime.”
In a related development, following tip-off about illegal activities around Karakarma in Degema Local Government Area, troops intercepted three wooden boats with over 3,200 litres of stolen crude, adding that other seizures were made at Kumufari and Ogbonma Forests in Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area and Okobhio Forest in Degema Local Government Area.
“Around Imo River, troops deactivated 19 illegal refining sites, 51 drum pots and 34 drum receivers with over 4,000 stolen products handled.
“Similarly, in Delta State, troops projected force into Benneth Island general area in Warri South West Local Government Area where three active illegal refining sites were deactivated, with several holding facilities destroyed and over 6,300 litres of stolen crude confiscated. This feat was also replicated at Omadino general area in Warri South, where two active illegal refining sites were taken out with a number of holding facilities destroyed as well as over 5,400 litres of illegally refined AGO recovered.”
He said that In Bayelsa State, around Etelabu Forest in Yenagoa, troops swooped on a newly established illegal refining site with over 1,000 litres of stolen crude recovered.
The GOC, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, while commending the troops for the reinvigorated anti-illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism posture, charged them to effectively deny economic saboteurs freedom of action. This, he assured would support increase in exploration activities in the NDR.
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