By Linus Aleke
The Military High Command on Thursday said that troops of Operations Delta Safe and Dakatar da Barawo destroyed a total of one hundred and sixty-seven (167), illegal refineries, intercepts two million, nine hundred and twenty-eight thousand, five hundred (2,928, 500), barrel of crude oil, and two million four hundred and sixty-five thousand, three hundred (2,465,300), AGO between 28 April and 19 May 2022.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Benard Onyeuko, who made this disclosure while briefing a Defence correspondent in Abuja, also revealed that the troops in collaboration with Nigerian Drug Law enforcement Agency (NDLEA), equally intercepted drug barons and drug peddlers during a special operation.
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According to him, “troops in Operation Delta Safe continued to clamp down on the activities of oil thieves, economic saboteurs and other criminal elements. On 15 May 2022, troops in conjunction with Nigerian Drug Law enforcement Agency (NDLEA) conducted raid operations on a suspected drug hideout in Effurum in Urwie Local Government Area of Delta State. During the operations, troops arrested some drug barons namely; Mrs Ughanekvwo Unagha, Mr Festus Baron, Mr Okumaba Eanaguono, Mr Ahmed Agbamu, Mr David Mene, Mr Unagha Paul, Mr Edirin Thomas, Mr Osanege Solomon, Mr Samuel Juwon and Mr Degbe Andy. Items recovered from them include 2.460kg of cannabis, 0.0703kg of cocaine, 0.054kg of meth, 0.067kg of loud, 0.654kg of cannabis seeds, 1 tablet of molly, I pump action with 15 cartridges, 1 Toyota Hilux and Mercedes Benz car.
“In furtherance, to rid the zone of illegal oil theft, troops conducted anti-crude oil theft, anti-smuggling, raid operations and patrols in locations such as; Akantu Creek in Warri North Local Government Area, Tibo Ajuomo Creek in Warri South Local Government Area, Effunim in Urwie Local Government Area of Delta State. Other locations were; East-West road, Mbiama in Ahoada Local Government Area, Elele in Eleme Local Government Area, Rumuekpe in Emohua Local Government Area, Awoba in Degema Local Government Area of River State and Akenfa in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State respectively.
“Troops discovered and destroyed 17 illegal refineries, 5 wooden boats, 89 storage tanks, 59 ovens, 12 dugout pits. Troops also recovered 6 pumping machines, 5 trucks, 2 Outboard engines, 2 weapons, Seven Hundred and Seventy Eight Thousand Five Hundred (778,500) litres of crude oil, Eight Hundred and Forty Thousand Three Hundred (840,300) litres of AGO, Six Hundred and Twenty Five 625 litres of DPK, 18 criminals were also arrested”.
Relatedly, operations Dakatar da Barawo recorded some modest successes in its operations against oil thieves and economic saboteurs within its Area of Operations.
Gen. Onyeuko said that the operational activities were conducted by the Nigerian Navy Ship Soroh in locations such as Kiama, Mbiama, Sagbama water side, Odioma-Diema axis along Akassa-Brass route, Otuofor creek, Kotipiri fishing camp, Ereweibio creek in Bayelsa State.
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He added that NNS Delta conducted operational activities in Sara creek, Ogbodede community and Ekpemu community in Delta State.
He noted that other operations activities was conducted by NNS Pathfinder in Isaka junction, Cawthone channel.
“The operational success led to the discovery of 150 illegal refineries, 59 ovens, 67 metal storage tanks, 4 wooden cotonou boats which were all eventually destroyed.
Cumulatively, the operations led to the recovery of 1 Yamaha engine, 1 generator, 3 pumping machines, Twenty Thousand (20,000) litres of kerosine, One Million Six Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand (1,625,000) litres of AGO, Two Million and Fifty Thousand (2,050,000) litres of crude oil,” he further revealed.
He concluded that all recovered items and apprehended criminals were handed over to the appropriates authorities for further actions.
