Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Joint Military Taskforce operating in the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe, says it has conducted series of anti-illegal oil bunkering and raid operations, leading to the deactivation of several illegal oil refining sites across the region.
This was disclosed by the Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Bernard Onyeuko after the raid.
He noted that several illegal pipelines connected to a pipeline operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) in Ibaa, Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State, were disconnected.
He added that troops, during the aggressive raids, conducted between June 3 and 16, 2021, recovered stolen items and sealed reactivated illegal oil refining sites, hence thwarting the activities of oil thieves in Rivers and Delta States.
He further said some contraband vessels were also intercepted and confiscated by troops of Operation Delta Safe.
“These feats were achieved on 3rd and 4th June 2021, as troops conducted anti-illegal oil bunkering operations to deactivate illegal oil refining sites at Ibaa in Emohua LGA and Kumufari and Yalama Towns in Asari-Toru LGA of Rivers State.
“During the operations, several barrels of illegally refined PMS and AGO were impounded and storage tanks immobilized.
“Relatedly, troops, while on patrol on 4 June, intercepted and impounded several wooden boats; some laden with large quantities of stolen crude oil, others loaded with vandalized pipes at DSC Roundabout in Udu LGA and Opuama Creek in Warri North LGA of Delta State.
“Additionally, troops on 5th June disconnected an illegal pipeline laid by criminals connected to SPDC pipeline around Ibaa in Emohua LGA of Rivers State.
“Troops also re-sealed some illegal oil refining sites reactivated by criminal elements at Koko Community in Warri North LGA of Delta State on 6th June 2021.”
The Joint Military Taskforce was established across the Nigerian force and defence services to collaborate in tackling crude oil theft and attacks on oil and gas facilities across the nation.
SPDC had raised worries about the incessant theft of crude and the destruction of its pipeline facilities in Nigeria, a problem that has affecteded its profit turnover over the years.
