Troops of Operation Delta Safe, in a sustained fight against activities of crude oil thieves in the Niger Delta, have destroyed 56 illegal refining sites in one week.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, made this disclosure on Friday in Abuja in the weekly report of the ongoing military operations across the area.
Kangye said the troops also recovered 675,266 litres of stolen crude oil, 312,593 litres of illegally refined AGO and 4,500 litres of DPK within one week.
According to him, the troops also discovered and destroyed 51 crude oil cooking ovens, 49 dugout pits, 43 boats, 28 storage tanks and 131 drums.
He added that other items recovered include four pumping machines, four tricycles, three motorcycles, seven mobile phones and eight vehicles.
“Additionally, 31 oil thieves and other criminals were arrested, 103 assorted arms and ammunition as well as three extra magazines were also recovered among others,” he said.
The defence spokesman said the troops had between March 5 and March 10, apprehended 11 suspected criminals and rescued four kidnap victims in Bakassi and Onelga GAs of Cross River and Rivers states, respectively, as well as Warri South, Sapele Uvwie and Ughelli areas of Delta.
He added that the air component conducted patrols and air reconnaissance missions over Imo River, Owaza, Ohaji/Egbema and Abacheke general areas, as well as Nembe, Okpokiri, Tomkiri, Brass and Belema axis.
These missions, according to him, aided successes in destruction of illegal refining sites, boats, vehicles and tricycles among other equipment.
Nigerian troops deactivate 56 illegal refining sites in one week
