PeakNews Online
Port Harcourt, Nigeria — Troops of the 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, have intensified efforts to dismantle illegal refining operations along the fringes of the River Niger, bordering Ndokwa East in Delta State and Ndoni Local Government Area (LGA) in Rivers State.
The operation, which was launched based on credible intelligence, targeted sites involved in large-scale illegal refining activities in the area. According to a statement released by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, several items used in the illicit refining process were confiscated and destroyed during the operation.
The seized items included eight cooking pots, three storage tanks, three large storage dugouts, and 12 feeders. Additionally, the troops found three cooking drums, a network of pipes and hoses, and over 2,000 liters of crude oil stored in a metallic oven. Two wooden boats, each loaded with over 10,000 liters of condensates, were also discovered abandoned by criminals who fled the scene.
Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma noted that the boats have been handled in accordance with the mandate of Operation Delta Safe, which focuses on combating illegal activities in the region.
In a related development, troops of the 5 Battalion, stationed in Rivers State, arrested eight suspects along the Orashi River in Obiafu, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA. The suspects were caught transporting over 2,000 liters of condensates on motorcycles.
Meanwhile, troops of the 29 Battalion, maintaining vigilance at the Imo River, identified and destroyed nine additional illegal refining sites. These sites were found to contain over 15,000 liters of illegally refined products. The suspects apprehended in connection with these activities have been handed over to the relevant authorities for prosecution.
The 6 Division, Nigerian Army, has called on the public, especially residents of communities near these illegal operations, to report any criminal activities to security agencies. The Army expressed particular concern about the severe environmental damage caused by the activities of these criminals.
Joe
