Oil theft: Troops arrest 19 suspects, confiscate 260,000 litres of stolen products

The Nigeria Army says troops have recorded success in the Niger Delta region as it dismantled over 43 illegal oil bunkering hubs, arrested 19 economic saboteurs and confiscated over 260,000 litres of stolen products.

Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, in a statement on Sunday, said the troops also demolished over 11 vehicles, 21 boats, as well as 11 motorcycles used for stealing crude oil in the region

According to the statement, in Rivers State, troops dismantled seven active illegal refining hubs around Abesa and Kula general area in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area (LGA), just as it confiscated over 60,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

It said the troops also destroyed several illegal bunkering havens, three fibre boats, five wooden boats, as well as recovered over 41,000 litres of stolen products.

It said in Buguma Creeks, four active illegal refining hubs, eight large cooking pots, massive receivers/reservoirs, three local boats stocked with over 12,500 litres of stolen products were destroyed.

According to the statement, several wooden boats with over 10,000 litres of stolen products were intercepted around Odagwa, Akwa, Oza West, Oyigbo,Obozur and Ayama general areas.