The Nigerian Army announced the destruction of several illegal refining sites in Rivers and Bayelsa States during an operation by the Land Component, Joint Task Force, South-South, Operation Delta Safe. Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday morning.
Danjuma highlighted that the operation aims to reduce the activities of notorious illegal oil bunkering merchants in the Niger Delta Region. The army has intensified operations against these criminal elements to boost oil production in the crude oil and gas-rich region.
In Rivers State, troops from Sector 3 identified and destroyed three illegal refining sites in Odagwa, Etche Local Government Area. The operation led to the confiscation and destruction of over 30,000 litres of stolen and illegally refined products. Additionally, at the Akaso field down to Cawthorne channel, troops discovered one illegal refining site, three receivers, and massive connecting pipes used to transport stolen crude.
Similarly, in Bayelsa State, troops from Sector 2 confiscated over 12,000 litres of stolen and illegally refined products during routine operations along Dasaba Creek in Nembe LGA. The operation also led to the recovery and destruction of various items, including a fibre boat, five ovens, several metal drums, and large reservoirs used for storage.
