Troops Destroy 50 Illegal Refineries, Arrest Criminals in N/Delta Creeks
The Troops of operation DELTA SAFE in conduct of Operation OCTOPUS GRIP and other operations discovered and destroyed 50 illegal refining sites, 22 wooden boats, 237 storage tanks, 204 ovens and 30 dugout pits.
This statement was made today during a press briefing by Director of Defense Media Operations, DMO, Maj. Gen. Musa Danmadami at Defense Headquarter, Abuja.
He said that Troops also recovered 797,000 litres of crude oil, 276,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 500 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosine, 4 pumping machines, 19 vehicles, 6 motorcycles, 1 tricycle, 8 weapons, 18 variety of ammunitions, 1 outboard engine, 2 generators and 1 speed boat, while 26 suspected criminals were also apprehended.
“All items recovered and arrested suspects from the region have been handed over to the relevant authority for further action. It is worth mentioning that the sum of Four Hundred and Seven Million Five Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty Naira (N407,542,860.00) only were denied oil thieves.
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Mr Dandami further explained that operation DELTA SAFE and other operations in the South South zone of the country have sustained the war against oil theft, illegal refineries and other criminal activities in the Niger Delta region through aggressive patrols, raid, clearance and buggy operations amongst other activities.
“Operations were conducted at creeks, towns, water ways, high ways, cities and high seas of Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River and River State respectively which yielded appreciable results.
“Notably, on 23 March 2023, troops responded to human intelligence that revealed movement of arms and ammunition along Rumuola Psychiatric in Obio/Akpar Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“Accordingly, troops mobilized to the general area and arrested a suspected gun runner with 3 of his associates.
“Following the arrest, troops recovered 5 AK47 rifles, 1 AK46 rifle, 3 single barrel pump action gun, 250 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 413 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 11 AK47 magazines, 1 box of 7.62mm NATO rounds, 231 rounds of 7.62mm special, 153 cartridges, 1 solar prime explosive, 1 roll of dextol 29, 10 chargers of dextol 29, 6 K2 rifle magazines, 32 rounds of K2 ammunition, 1 nylon of powdered explosive and 2 AK47 butts among other items at the residence of the suspected gun runner,” He said.
