Oil thieves scamper as troops destroy illegal refineries in Delta

Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army have destroyed eight active ovens used for refining of stolen crude oil around Ogbokoko and Atu in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta on Wednesday. The troops also destroyed 14 reservoirs containing an estimated 200,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 90,000 litres of diesel, the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, stated on Thursday in Abuja. He stated that the destruction was conducted in a swoop on the area by troops conducting anti-oil theft operations. Nwachukwu added that the oil thieves fled upon sighting the advancement of troops. “The illegal refining site was destroyed in line with extant guidelines of `Operation Delta Safe’. Investigation is ongoing to arrest the fleeing criminals. “Members of the public are implored to report any suspected act of sabotage or criminality to security agencies to enhance on-going operations to curb economic sabotage in the country,’’ Nwachukwu stated.

NAF destroys boats with stolen crude oil

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) has destroyed boats laden with stolen crude oil as part of efforts to thwart oil theft in the Niger Delta region. Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, NAF Director of Public Relations, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja. Gabkwet said the air component had on Saturday bombarded three boats carrying stolen crude oil at about four Nautical Miles South-East of Bille, a riverine area located west of Bonny Island and South of Port Harcourt, in Rivers. He said the boats were sighted tapping crude oil from a pipeline. He added that the crew also observed an active illegal refining site with tanks and reservoirs loaded with suspected illegal refined products, about 4 miles South-east of Idama also in Rivers. According to him, the site has been subsequently attacked and destroyed. “Air strikes against these economic saboteurs will be sustained until they desist from their acts of thievery and economic sabotage. “The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has since directed all air component commanders nationwide to ensure they team up with other security agencies to sustain air strikes on all criminal elements in the country. “He said that days of treating criminal elements with kid gloves is over, saying that NAF must continue on the trajectory until they brought all of them to their knees,” he said.