More than 45,000 liters of stolen petroleum products have been seized by Nigerian Army troops, who have also detained at least 17 suspected vandals. This was revealed in a statement released on Sunday by Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division, Army Public Relations.
According to the statement, a Toyota 4Runner SUV carrying more than 1,600 liters of suspected stolen diesel was stopped by troops patrolling the Okarki Community in the Ahoada West Local Government Area in Rivers State.
It was reported that the driver fled after abandoning the car.
A wooden boat carrying petroleum products was seized in Degema, and 23 sacks containing refined products were found in Ahoada West as well.
Soldiers discovered a damaged pipeline and recovered stolen condensate at Obiafor in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
A 250-meter hose, three-inch metal pipes, and six sacks filled with 300 liters of illegally refined AGO were among the items found, according to the statement, which was partially read.
A tanker truck loaded with suspected stolen diesel and a sizable storage facility containing more than 20,000 liters of Automotive Gas Oil, or AGO, were found alongside pumping and metering machines when soldiers in Delta State stormed an illegal storage hub at Ogwu Community in the Warri South Local Government Area.
Two empty tanks and a 20,000-liter tanker truck registered BEN 223 ZW (Edo State) carrying more than 10,000 liters of illegally refined AGO were among the additional items, according to the statement.
Raids in Biseni, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, resulted in the destruction of refineries and dugout pits.
In a different operation in Okordia, a Toyota Camry carrying AGO drums was intercepted.
“A Toyota Camry with registration number ASB 71 BG, loaded with more than 600 liters of AGO, was intercepted at Okordia in Yenagoa LGA,” the statement said. Lieutenant Danjuma reported that security patrols along oil theft-prone routes in Akwa Ibom State increased, limiting saboteurs’ movement and interfering with their supply routes.
The army insisted that the goals of its current operations were to protect national resources, curb the actions of those who would undermine the economy, and restore the natural balance of the Niger Delta.
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