Troops of Operation Delta Safe have destroyed 21 illegal refining sites and recovered 696,800 litres of stolen petroleum products in August.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, said this at the monthly briefing on military operations, on Monday in Abuja.
Onoja adding that 43 criminals were arrested and 38 civilians rescued in the South-South during the period.
He said the successes recorded in the fight against crude oil theft had continued to frustrate the activities of economic saboteurs.
He said between Aug. 1 and 2, troops dismantled three reactivated illegal refining sites in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni axis of Rivers State and recovered 61,000 litres of stolen crude and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
“On Aug. 5, troops discovered 85,300 litres of crude oil products in the same axis, while on Aug. 6, an offensive at Oteghele axis of Delta State yielded 105,000 litres of suspected stolen crude.
“Operation DELTA SENTINEL on Aug. 7 recovered 24,000 litres at Bethel Community in Bonny LGA and intercepted a speedboat with 17,000 litres of illegally refined AGO along Onne-Okrika waterways,” he said.
Onoja said troops also disrupted three illegal refining sites in Egbema axis on Aug. 15, recovering 85,000 litres of illegally refined AGO concealed in pits and reservoirs, and 93,000 litres around Allison Community in Bonny on Aug. 20.
He said on Aug. 22, Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER disrupted three sites around Ohaji axis and recovered about 103,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO.
The defence spokesperson added that on Aug. 27, troops intercepted two tanker trucks attempting to siphon crude at Aleto in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers.
He said troops of Operation UDO KA also intercepted vehicles conveying illegally refined products along Agwa-Ejemekuru Road in Imo State.
Onoja said crude oil recovery surged by 174.2 per cent in August after an 18.8 per cent drop in July, reflecting intensified maritime and ground offensives to protect critical national assets. (NAN)
