P/HARCOURT (Sundiata Post) – Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have declared their determination to sustain the tempo in the fight against oil saboteurs in the Niger Delta region.
The Army said this resolve is manifesting in the number of illegal refining sites destroyed, arrests made and products confiscated by security operatives.
The 6 Division said in a bid to maintain the momentum, troops have been traversing the length and breadth of the operational landscape with huge successes recorded.
Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, in Port Harcourt, Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, in a statement yesterday, said the operations led to the destruction of over 27 newly established illegal refining sites and confiscation of over 100,000 litres of stolen crude in various operations conducted.
Danjuma disclosed that the troops of 29 Battalion, while exploiting deep into the fringes of notorious Imo River, a renowned hub of criminal activities, destroyed over 23 newly established illegal refining sites.
He added: “This was in addition to two storage reservoirs with over 80,000 litres of stolen crude confiscated.
He disclosed that three vehicles loaded with illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, stashed in GP tanks and sacks were confiscated.
According to him, the products confiscated were estimated to be over 8,000 litres.
He continued that, in Cowthorne Channel II, in Degema LGA , troops of 16 Brigade in conjunction with other security agencies discovered and destroyed over four illegal refining sites with three metal drums
Danjuma said this is in addition to pits containing stolen crude estimated to be over 6,000 litres discovered in the area.
According to him: “This feat is in addition to other pockets of seizures made by troops of 6 Division in the region. The products confiscated are being handled appropriately.”
Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, while commending troops for their renewed disposition to take criminal merchants out of business, charged them to ensure that the integrity of the pipelines are maintained.
He said this would ensure that oil companies conduct their activities seamless, as it would guarantee the expected improvement in oil production in line with the operational directive of the Chief of Defence Staff.
Abdussalam also called on critical stakeholders, particularly host communities to continue to provide credible intelligence on the activities of these criminals to security agencie.
