3 arrested, 15 rescued as troops raid 48 illegal refineries
NEWS DIGEST–Three suspected pipeline vandals have been arrested around Shell Petroleum Development Company pipeline by troops of Operation DELTA SAFE, deployed along KCTL pipeline at Odau Community in Abua/Adual LGA of Rivers State.
Maj. Gen. John Enenche, who made this known in a statement on Tuesday, also said 15 persons who were held hostage in 5 speed boats by hoodlums have been rescued by troops of Sector 2.
He noted that the troops were on routine patrol at Nembe Owelesu, Bayelsa State, when they encountered sea robbers at Abuja Open Water-Nembe.
But, the Sea robbers, on sighting the troop’s gunboats, escaped into the creeks.
Enenche, who is the Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations (DMO), in the statement, further said, acting on a tip off, Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER patrol team, on 23 April 2020, intercepted and arrested 3 Barges (MV Rock 1, JULIANAH and an unnamed barge) laden with illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) at AGIP waterfront for suspected involvement in illegal bunkering activities.
According to him, “The team also arrested another barge laden with suspected stolen crude oil around Okochiri River entrance.”
It was also gathered that, troops of Sector 3, Operation DELTA SAFE, conducted raid on four Illegal refining sites along Dema Abby – Oputumbi – Nanabie – Promise Land – Otobie and Ogono general area.
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Enenche, in the statement, explained that items discovered and appropriately handled, include 7 boilers, 9 storage tanks, 8 metal tanks, 1 dugout reservoir all filled with stolen crude oil, 8 metal tanks, 18 metal drums, 11 reservoir tanks filled with illegally refined AGO and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK).
The statement reads: “Also, 2 empty Cotonou boats, 1 generator set, 1 pumping machine, 2 welding machines, 1 filing machine, rolls of hose, and 1 speedboat mounted with 75 HP engine (use for illegal bunkering activities) were also discovered within the sites.
“Additionally, troops of Sector 3 on patrol intercepted a barge laden with suspected illegally refined AGO around Orutoru general area of Rivers State. Relatedly, on 25 April 2020, following intelligence report, troops of Headquarters Operation DELTA SAFE discovered and appropriately handled an Illegal refining site at Uzere community at Ughelli North LGA of Delta State. Additionally, on 23 April 2020, troops of Sector 2 Operation DELTA SAFE deployed along KCTL pipeline at Odau Community in Abua/Odual LGA of Rivers State arrested 3 suspected pipeline vandals around Shell Petroleum Development Company pipeline.”
Overall, the DMO Coordinator said, a total of 3 weapons were recovered, while about 48 illegal refineries, 28 surface metal storage tanks, 60 cooking ovens and 18 Cotonou boats, amongst others.
He added that about 58,500 liters of DPK, 11,750 liters of PMS, 855,900 liters of AGO and an estimated 1, 507,000 liters of crude oil were also seized by troops.
Said Eneche: “All rescued victims, recovered items and arrested suspects are to be handed over to the appropriate authorities at the end of preliminary investigation.”
