The Defence Headquarters on Friday announced that troops in the South-South region successfully recovered stolen crude oil and other associated products with a total value of N2.6 billion.
According to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), a comprehensive amount of stolen crude oil, illegal refined AGO, and DPK were successfully recovered between January 27 and February 16.
The total recovery included 3,282,250 litres of stolen crude oil, 224,050 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 5,925 litres of DPK.
Additionally, military operations led to the discovery and destruction of 131 dugout pits, 67 illegal refining sites, and 125 storage tanks. A total of 104 suspected oil thieves were also apprehended during this period.
This information was conveyed in a statement issued by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba.
The statement read, “In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of N2,602,902,800.00 only. Troops also arrested 104 perpetrators of oil theft.
“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 131 dugout pits, 70 boats, 125 storage tanks, 12 motorcycles, 2 tricycles and 12 vehicles. Other items recovered included 43 cooking ovens, 12 pump machines, 6 speedboats, one outboard engine, and 67 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 3,282,250 litres of stolen crude oil, 224,050 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 5,925 litres of DPK.”
The nation is facing a significant challenge of oil theft, which is resulting in considerable negative effects on economic development, commercial prospects, and the profit margins of oil companies.
Ogbonnaya Orji, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, revealed that over the course of five years, more than N4.3 trillion worth of crude oil was stolen in 7,143 cases of pipeline vandalism.
Additionally, Maj. Gen. Buba reported that a total of 254 terrorists were eliminated, while 264 others were apprehended.
He said, “During the week under review troops recorded the following: troops neutralised 254 and arrested 264. Troops also rescued 73 kidnapped hostages.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 378 assorted weapons and 4,705 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: 131 AK47 rifles, 2 FN rifles, 2 G3 rifle, 3 SMGs, 69 locally fabricated guns, 57 pump action guns, 7 pistols, 14 locally fabricated pistols, 5 revolver rifles, 4 revolver pistols, 45 Dane guns, 4 locally made single barrel, and 2 hand grenades, 7 RPG Launchers, one RPG bomb, one locally made double barrel gun, 17 Dane gun double barrel and IEDs.
“Others are 2,444 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,712 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 80 rounds of 9mm ammo, 61 rounds of 5.45 x 39mm ammo, 6 rounds of 0.44-inch ammo, 415 live cartridges, 10 empty cases of cartridges, 11 magazines, 18 vehicles, 40 motorcycles, 74 mobile phones, four baofeng radios and the sum of N748,430.00 amongst other items.”