Crude Oil Stealing: Army Bursts 11 Oil Bunkering Facilities In Niger Delta

Efforts of the Nigerian Army to checkmate crude oil stealing through oil bunkering activities have yielded an impressive result.

This comes by way of it bursting 11 oil bunkering outlets and seizure of facilities for the crude oil stealing.

The haul followed a 6-day raid covering locations in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers States, spokesman for the Nigerian Army 6 Division, Port Harcourt, Lt.-Col. Danjuma Danjuma has said.

In a statement in Port Harcourt yesterday, he said troops raided the Imo River area busted 6 illegal refineries and made reasonable seizures of the equipment of the bunkerers.

“The Nigerian Army has uncovered 11 new bunkering facilities and made some seizures during a six-day operation conducted in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers.

7 others suspected of crude oil stealing were arrested during the operations 13,600 litres of stolen crude oil, 4,890 litres of adulterated diesel, and 37,700 litres of various other unspecified petroleum products were seized during the raids, his statement said.

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Other details of the raid were as follows:

1. troops recovered about 11,000 litres of stolen petroleum products, deactivated 41 drum pots, 18 receivers, and 540 sacks of illegal fuel, and stopped attempts to rebuild other refining sites.
2. In Ahoada West, troops intercepted two Toyota Camry vehicles with 1,300 litres of illegal diesel. Seven suspects were arrested at Krakrama Wellhead 12, Bille, while trying to vandalise the site, and three boats with 1,500 litres of stolen crude were recovered.
3. In Delta State, troops intercepted 25,200 litres of unidentified fuel and 10,000 litres of stolen crude hidden in two tankers, a truck, and a bus. They also found 3,350 litres of adulterated diesel and equipment used for illegal refining in Sapele.
4. In Bayelsa, four illegal refining sites were dismantled in Biseni and Okordia communities in Yenagoa. Troops recovered 2,100 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,500 litres of other petroleum products.
5. In Akwa Ibom, soldiers intercepted 240 litres of illegally refined diesel stored in eight jerrycans during a patrol along the Okobo-Uyo Road.