In efforts to check the rising spates of Oil thefts Nigerian
Defence Headquarters said on Thursday that a total of 3,810,000 litres of stolen crude oil valued at not less than $2,611,858 USD were recovered from thieves in the last two weeks by its troops.
Directors of Defence Media Operations, Major General Benard Onyeuko, who disclosed this at media press briefing in Abuja also disclosed that 3,074,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil were discovered by troops between June 16th and 30th 2022.
The disclosure came amidst scarcity of refined petroleum products in major cities as the dealers embarked on warning strike in protest of delay payment of their subsidies from the federal government.
Oneuko said that other products recovered includes
Fourteen Thousand (14,000) litres of Premium Motor Spirit and Fourteen Thousand (14,000) litres of Dual Purpose Kerosine.
A total of 26 oil thieves were arrested, 29 vehicles, 68 wooden boats, 9 speed boats and other equipments were impounded by troops.
He explained that troops of Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO made these discovery when they carried out anti-illegal bunkering, oil theft and other sundry operations at various parts of Delta and Rivers States between 17 and 19 June 2022.
According to him, “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 Gas Oil and One Million One Hundred and Fifty Thousand (1,150,000) litres of stolen crude oil was discovered.”
He stated that similar operations conducted by troops of Operation OCTOPUS GRIP at other locations between 16 – 26 June 2022 was aimed at checking the massive illegal bunkering, oil refining and crude oil theft in various parts of the South South Zone.
These operations led to troops discovery of several storage tanks, dugout pits, oven, boats laden with both crude oil and illegal refined products .
“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.”
A total of 21 criminals involved in this criminal activities were arrested by the troops of Operation OCTOPUS GRIP.
Fielding question on the impact of military operations, the Director of Defence Information,DDI, Major General Jimmy Akpor said that the military has successfully resolved most of the crises in trouble spots and restored normalcy that allowed the populace to go back to their normal businesses.
Meanwhile, efforts by the troops to clear criminals in North West Zone where resurgence of their activities raised concerns in the past weeks are yielding results.
According to Major General Onyeuko, on 21 June, 2022 troops of Forward Operation Base Bakura Operation HADARIN DAJI responded to distress call of terrorists activities at Rafin Dankura in Bakura Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The “troops engaged the terrorists in a shoot out who were trying to abduct innocent civilians. After the encounter troops were able to rescue the six (6) kidnapped civilians and neutralized 2 bandits in the process.
They recovered from the Bandits “2 AK 47rifles, 1x 36 Hand grenade, 2 x Cell phones and the sum of two hundred and nineteen thousand (211,915.00).
On same day 21 June 2022, troops made contacts with marauding terrorists at Maigora in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State and neutralized 2 terrorists in the process.
The Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI also carried out air interdiction on 22 June 22 at Kofar Danya Village in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The air interdiction followed credible report about terrorists regrouping and their planned attack on Kofar Danya Village. The air component was urgently mobilized to the location and sighted over One Hundred and Fifty (150) terrorists converged under a thick vegetation.
Accordingly, Nigerian Air Force platforms engaged the terrorists with heavy bombardment and destroyed the terrorists concentration camp.
” Consequently, credible feedback from the locals around Kofar Danya disclosed that over Eighty Two (82) of the terrorists suffered heavy casualties as many of them were neutralized while other sustained various degree of injuries”.