By Linus Aleke

The Nigerian military yesterday said it uncovered and deactivated additional 81 illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta region during the routine anti oil theft operations in the area.

This was in addition troops’ recovering over N20 million from terrorists logistics suppliers and collaborators within the northwest and the northeast theatre of operations.

Troops on stop and search operation, the military said, arrested five bandits collaborators at Daudawa village in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State with the sum N19,500,000.00 in their possession on November 17 2022.

The Defence Media Operations Director, Major General Musa Danmadami, who gave this figure during the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) biweekly briefing in Abuja, disclosed that troops equally recovered a vehicle and five mobile phones from the suspect.

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He noted that during the conduct of Operation Octopus Grip, troops discovered and destroyed 81 illegal refining sites, 254 storage tanks, 173 cooking ovens, 118 dugout pits, and 36 wooden boats.

According to the military spokesperson, troops equally recovered 1,060,500 litres of crude oil, 391,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 11 cars, six tankers, eight pumping machines, three motorcycles, two outboard engines, one tricycle, and five AK47 rifle loaded with 10m rounds of 7.62mm special, adding that 81 criminal elements were also apprehended during the various operations.

“Similarly, on 21 November 2022, troops raided a suspected gunmen enclave at Ebem Community in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State. Following the operation troops arrested 13 suspects and recovered 2 pump action guns, 2 double barrel rifles, 3 dane guns, 1 locally made pistol, 3 cartridges and 6 machetes,” he said.

Major General Danmadami said within the weeks in focus oil thieves were denied about N471,205,425.00 in the South-South region.