By Linus Aleke
The Defence Headquarters on Thursday said the combined troops of Operations Delta Safe, Octopus Grip and Dakar Da Barawo intercepted petroleum products worth three billion, seven hundred and eight million, two hundred and fifty-nine thousand, three hundred and thirty-eight Naira (N3,708,259,338.00), from oil thieves within two weeks, in the Niger Delta region.
Director, of Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, made this revelation, at the DMO bi-weekly briefing, in Abuja.
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He noted that during the operations, troops also discovered and destroyed several illegal refining sites, which includes, 493 dugout pits, 512 storage tanks, 413 cooking ovens and 59 wooden boats.
“Also, troops recovered 4 tankers, 2-speed boats, one generator, one outboard engine, 14 pumping machines, 3 AK47 rifles,” he further disclosed.
Giving a breakdown of the volume of petroleum products recovered from the economic saboteurs, at the creeks of Niger Delta, Major General Danmadami said: “twenty-five thousand nine hundred and seventy-seven and fifteen (25,977.15) Barrel of Crude Oil, three Million two hundred and thirty-six thousand one hundred and thirty (3,236,130) litres of Automotive Gas Oil, twenty-six thousand five hundred and seventy-five (26,575) litres of Premium Motor Spirit, and two thousand (2,000), litres, of Dual Purpose Kerosine. Troops also arrested 21 pipeline vandals”.
He said all recovered items and apprehended oil thieves were handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.said
He further revealed that, cumulatively, “a total value of products denied oil thieves from the period in the review are one billion three hundred and thirteen million twenty thousand two hundred and forty-two Naira (N1,313,020,242.00) only of crude oil, two billion three hundred seventy-four million six hundred and seven thousand four hundred and seventy-one Naira (N2,374,607,471.00), only of AGO, four million six hundred and fifty thousand six hundred and twenty-five nairas (N4,650,625.00), only of PMS and fifteen million nine hundred and eighty-one thousand Naira (N15,981,000.00), only of DPK. Consequently, a total of three billion seven hundred and eight million two hundred and fifty-nine thousand three hundred and thirty-eight Naira (N3,708,259,338.00) only was denied the oil thieves”.
He said the troops of Operation Delta Safe have continued the war against oil theft and illegal bunkering and other criminal activities in the Niger Delta to sustain a conducive environment for economic activities to thrive in the South-South region.
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Gen. Danmadami added that Consequently, troops of Operation Delta Safe the conducted operations, Octopus Grip and Operation Dakar Da Barawo conducted operational activities in creeks, villages, communities and towns in the zone.
In the southwest zone, the Spokesperson said that troops of Operation Atwase in the conduct of Operation Swift Response continued to clamp down on smugglers of contraband in the borders area, bushes and waterside in Ogun State and Kwara State.
“Items recovered during the raid operations include 1,542 jerricans of Premium Motor Spirit, 311 bags of 50kg foreign rice and a truck loaded with substances suspected to be cannabis Sativa. All recovered items were handed over to Nigeria Customs Service in Ogun State and Kwara State for further necessary action,” he siad.
He also conveyed the military high command commendations on the efforts of troops in the various theatres of operation across the country.
