By Linus Aleke
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Thursday, said that the military intercepted no fewer than 13 million, barrels of crude and refined petroleum products put together, at the creeks of Niger Delta in two weeks.
Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Benard Onyeuko made this disclosure while briefing a Defence correspondent in Abuja.
He said that this week’s operationally briefing on troops’ activities and operational successes is based on the various operational theatres of the 6 geopolitical zones of the country, adding that the highlights of the briefing cover from 16 – 30 June 2022.
According to him, “troops of Operation Dakatar Da Barawo between 17 and 19 June 2022 carried out anti-illegal bunkering, oil theft and other sundry operations at various parts of Delta and Rivers States. Several wooden boats, storage tanks, and dugout pits laden with illegal refined Automotive Gas Oil were discovered.
“The total of Nine Hundred and Thirty Thousand (930,000) litres of Automotive Gas Oil and One Million One Hundred and Fifty Thousand (1,150,000) litres of stolen crude oil was discovered.
INEC to display uncollected PVCs for 5 days in Surulere
“Similarly, Operation Octopus Grip between 16 – 26 June 2022 2022 carried out massive anti-illegal bunkering, oil refining and crude oil theft in various parts of the South South Zone. Several storage tanks, dugout pits, oven, boats laden with both crude oil and illegal refined products were discovered by the troops. Within this period a total of Two Million One Hundred and Forty Four Thousand (2,144,000) litres of Automotive Gas Oil, Two Million Six Hundred and Sixty (2,660,000) litres of stolen crude oil, Fourteen Thousand (14,000) liters of Premium Motor Spirit and Fourteen Thousand (14,000) litres of Dual Purpose Kerosine were discovered.
“Cumulatively, in the South South Zone in the fight against oil thieves and illegal oil refining a total of Three Million and Seventy Four Thousand (3,074,000) litres of Automotive Gas Oil, Three Million Eight Hundred and Then Thousand (3,810,000) litres of crude oil, Fourteen Thousand (14,000) litres of Premium Motor Spirit and Fourteen Thousand (14,000) litres of Dual Purpose Kerosine was discovered”.
He concluded that Also, 47 oil thieves were arrested, while, 29 vehicles, 68 wooden boats, 9 speed boats amongst other equipments were impounded.
