According to the Nigerian Army, during various anti-illegal bunkering operations in the Niger Delta, soldiers from the 6 Division killed two accused oil thieves and detained eighteen more.

 

The division’s spokesman, Lieutenant-Col. Danjuma Danjuma, revealed this information in a statement released on Monday in Port Harcourt. He stated that the activities took place in the states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers.

 

According to Danjuma, the soldiers also took out seven boats, two AK-47 weapons, 60,000 liters of pilfered petroleum products, and demolished thirteen illicit refineries.

 

He stated that during the operations, eight unlawful connection points that were placed on wellheads and pipelines were discovered, and that during the raids on illicit refining facilities in Ahoada West Local Government Area, vandals engaged the forces in gunfire.

Danjuma went on to say that during an operation in Bille, Rivers, troops demolished four illicit refining installations, took two boats, and confiscated 6,000 liters of stolen petroleum products.

A wooden boat that was removing crude oil from Wellhead 8 at Okpoko Oil Field, Warri South Local Government Area, was intercepted by soldiers, according to an army spokesman in Delta.

He reported that during an operation in the Ika North Local Government Area, nine individuals were taken into custody and two thousand liters of stolen crude oil were found.

According to the spokesman, soldiers demolished three illegal refining operations in Ekeremor, Bayelsa, arrested nine individuals, found 14,000 liters of petroleum products, 1,500 liters of crude oil, and intercepted four boats.

In the process, two vandals were neutralized. Eight magazines, 69 rounds of live 7.62mm ammunition, and two AK-47 assault rifles were found, the spokesperson stated.

“In Odagba village, close to the Imo River, forces seized two cars and four motorcycles that were left behind by alleged oil thieves after they caught two wooden boats transporting more than 5,000 liters of petroleum products.

Six barrels carrying 1,500 liters of gasoline were found by our personnel at Mbo, Akwa Ibom. The drums were being trafficked over the waterways to a neighboring country. He stated, “The suspects have been turned over to the appropriate authorities for additional inquiries and potential prosecution.