Nigerian Army Destroys Illegal Refineries In Delta, Rivers

Nigerian Army Destroys Illegal Refineries In Delta, Rivers

The Joint Military Task Force has destroyed three illegal oil refineries in Delta and Rivers states.

The task force, otherwise called Operation Delta Safe, said it impounded 11 metal tanks, five pits which contained 1,750 tonnes of substances suspected to be crude oil and 170 tonnes of illegally refined automated gas oil on Friday.

The spokesman for the Joint Media Campaign Centre, ODS, Major Abubakar Abdullahi, confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday.

Abdullahi noted that the operation was part of the renewed efforts of the ODS to protect oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta region.

He stressed that the military had intensified its efforts to frustrate the activities of oil thieves and vandals whom he described as economic saboteurs.

The ODS spokesman said, “Troops of Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS Delta) successfully carried out a raid on two illegal refineries along Lapase Creek in Warri South of Delta State.

“During the raid, 11 metal tanks, five pits with about 1,750 tonnes of suspected stolen crude oil and 170 tonnes of illegally refined AGO were impounded. Also, troops of Sector 3 destroyed a large illegal refinery with multiple dumps at Alakiri in Rivers State.

“The oil thieves, on sighting our troops, set fire to parts of their bunkering camp to block access to the illegal site. However, the troops put out the fire and destroyed the site.”

Abdullahi asked the public to support the task force by providing valuable information that will help to achieve the security of oil facilities.