Troops Destroy 44 Illegal Refineries In 2 Weeks

About 44 illegal refining sites have been destroyed in the Niger Delta region in two weeks.

Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, disclosed this at a bi-weekly news briefing on the operations of Operation Delta Safe on Thursday in Abuja.

Danmadami added that 29 suspected oil thieves in land, maritime and air operations at creeks, villages, communities, waterways, cities and towns within Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers States were arrested.

He said the troops in the conduct of Operation ‘Octopus Grip’ destroyed 32 wooden boats, 73 storage tanks, 129 cooking ovens and 40 dugout pits, adding that 512,000 litres of stolen crude oil, 114,500 litres of illegally refined AGO, 1,000 liters of PMS, 40 vehicles, three motorcycles, generators and five pumping machines were recovered.

“Troops also arrested 29 criminal elements and recovered 104 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

“Notably, on Nov. 7, it conducted air interdiction at Abacheke, an identified illegal refining site where significant human activities were confirmed.

“Consequently, the target was engaged and destroyed while an air strike led to an inferno that lasted for almost 24 hours,” he said.