Nigerian Army Kills 2 Suspected Oil Thieves, Arrests 18 in Niger Delta Operations

Nigerian Army Kills 2 Suspected Oil Thieves, Arrests 18 in Niger Delta Operations

Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have killed two suspected oil thieves and arrested 18 others during a series of anti-illegal bunkering operations across the Niger Delta.

The division’s spokesman, Lt.-Col. Danjuma Danjuma, announced on Monday that the operations took place in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states. During the raids, soldiers destroyed 13 illegal refineries, seized 60,000 liters of stolen petroleum products, confiscated seven boats, and recovered two AK-47 rifles.

Danjuma revealed that eight illegal connection points on wellheads and pipelines were uncovered. He added that troops encountered armed resistance from vandals while raiding illegal refining sites in Ahoada West Local Government Area, leading to the neutralization of two suspects and the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, and 69 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.

In Rivers State, soldiers dismantled four illegal refining sites in Bille, seized two boats, and confiscated 6,000 liters of stolen petroleum products. In Odagba village, near Imo River, troops intercepted two wooden boats carrying over 5,000 liters of petroleum products and confiscated two vehicles and four motorcycles abandoned by suspected oil thieves. The vehicles contained 28 sack bags with 1,700 liters of stolen petroleum products.

Further operations in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and Okirika in Rivers resulted in the destruction of three illegal refining sites, four wooden boats, and 10 metal tanks, with the recovery of over 6,000 liters of stolen petroleum products.

In Delta State, soldiers intercepted a wooden boat siphoning crude oil from Wellhead 8 at Okpoko Oil Field, Warri South, and arrested nine suspects with 2,000 liters of stolen crude oil in Ika North.

In Bayelsa, nine suspects were arrested, and three illegal refining sites were destroyed, yielding 14,000 liters of petroleum products, 1,500 liters of crude oil, and four boats. At Mbo, Akwa Ibom, troops intercepted six drums containing 1,500 liters of petrol being smuggled to a neighboring country.

Lt.-Col. Danjuma stated that all suspects have been handed over to relevant agencies for further investigations and possible prosecution.