Military deactivates 98 illegal refining sites in 1 week

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says the troops of Operation Delta Safe destroyed 98 illegal refining sites across the Niger Delta region in the last one week.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known while giving updates on the operations of the armed forces in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

Buba said the troops also discovered and destroyed 49 crude oil cooking ovens, 11 dugout pits, 72 boats, 21 drums, 30 storage tanks during the period.

He said that the troops also impounded 1.09 million litres of stolen crude oil and 873,510 litres of illegally refined AGO and denied oil thieves an estimated sum of N1.2 billon.

According to him, other items recovered include four speedboats, one tricycle, four pumping machines, one outboard engine, two motorcycles, two mobile phones and three vehicles among others.

Buba said the troops had between Oct. 23 and Oct. 27, intercepted and apprehended five suspected violent extremists/pipeline vandals including militant leader identified as Mr Eddy Edidiemokuma Korokoro in Delta and Bayelsa states.

He said troops also arrested four suspects and recovered two AK47 rifles, one locally fabricated rifle, three magazines, 96 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo and three smoke grenade launchers amongst others.

“Troops rescued four kidnapped hostages and apprehended 39 suspected oil thefts and other violent extremists and also recovered assorted arms and ammunitions,’’ he said. (NAN)