The Nigerian Army in recent operations carried out by troops of Operation Delta Safe have destroyed 36 illegal refining sites, apprehended 22 suspected oil thieves and recovered significant quantities of crude oil and fuel products.
Briefing newsmen on Thursday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, said the military successfully recovered 310,700 litres of crude oil, 14,675 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, and 49,000 litres of Dual Purpose kerosene during these operations.
In addition to the seizure of illegal products, troops also destroyed various equipment and facilities used for illegal refining, including 61 dugout pits, 32 wooden boats, 87 storage tanks, three vehicles, 126 cooking ovens, three outboard engines, one speedboat, two motorcycles, one generator, and two pumping machines.
On July 24th, the military intercepted and destroyed a wooden boat loaded with 1000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil at the Wellhead Cluster Opukushi Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Meanwhile, the country’s state-owned refineries remain grounded, contributing to the persistent challenges in the oil sector.
In response to this, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) held a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday and after a constructive engagement, the Federal Government has projected oil refining at the Port Harcourt refinery could commence by December.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the federal government failed to meet previous targets on the commencement of oil production in the refinery and the new timeline is contingent upon the successful completion of the ongoing rehabilitation contract between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and the Italian firm, Maire Tecnimont SpA.
Furthermore, Buba said military troops conducted raids on camps and hideouts of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) gunmen in Abia and Anambra States in Nigeria’s Southeast.
During these operations, the military arrested three suspected gunrunners and rescued nine kidnapped hostages. Several arms and ammunition were also recovered in Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra.
The seized items included: one AK47 rifle with 35 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, six pump-action guns, one locally made pistol, one dane gun, one locally made hand grenade, four vehicles, nine motorcycles, 925 machetes, and 151 machete sharpeners.
Additionally, Buba said Nigerian Police uniforms and boots, IPOB/ESN uniforms, one speaker, raincoats, boots, and a chainsaw were also recovered.
“In the conduct of the operations, troops recovered one AK47 rifle loaded with 35 rounds of 7.62mm special, six pump action guns, one locally made pistol, one dane gun, one locally made hand grenade, four vehicles, nine motorcycles, 925 machetes and 151 machetes sharpeners.
“Others are 1,080 sickles, Nigerian Police uniforms and boots, IPOB/ESN uniform, one speaker, rain coats and boots and a chain saw. Troops also apprehended three gunrunners and rescued nine kidnapped hostages.
The Nigerian Army called for support from well-meaning Nigerians in the fight against criminal activities, in order to flush out the perpetrators of these heinous acts from society.