Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria have arrested 26 oil thieves and discovered 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.
Also, 29 vehicles, 68 wooden boats, 9 speed boats amongst other equipments were impounded.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major-General Benard Onyeuko stated this on Thursday during the Defence Headquarters operational press briefing on troops activities and operational successes recorded from the various operational theatres of the 6 geopolitical zones of the country.
The briefing covered the period from 16 – 30 June 2022.
According to the Director, “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, dugout pits laden with illegal refined Automotive Gas Oil were discovered.
“The total of Nine Hundred and Thirty Thousand (930,000) litres of Automotive Gao Oil and One Million One Hundred and Fifty Thousand (1,150,000) litres of stolen crude oil was discovered.
“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 Gao 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. Also, 21 criminals involved in this criminal activities were arrested.
