Troops of Operation Delta Sanity have destroyed 19 illegal refineries and arrested eight crude oil thieves in September.
The troops also seized 25 wooden boats, 138 sacks laden with stolen crude, and destroyed 26 reservoirs, 19 ovens, and 12 dugout pits.
Navy’s spokesman, Commodore Aiwuyor Aliu-Adams, announced this in a statement on Friday.
Giving details of the operations, Commodore Aliu-Adams said troops, on September 2, seized and destroyed one Illegal Refining Site, two wooden boats and 28 sacks laden with illegally refined oil at Isonogbene, Ogboinbiri, Kasama-Azama-Isoni axis in South Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
He said: “On 4 September, three wooden boats and one speed boat laden with stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automated Gas Oil were seized around Brass River, Nembe, Borokiri community in Bayelsa State.
“On September 5, two Illegal Refinery Sites, two ovens, two reservoirs, one dugout pit and two wooden boats laden with product suspected to be stolen crude oil were destroyed and seized around Bonny Channel, Sobikiri, Adamakiri, Eferwarie and Isaka general area of Rivers State.
“On September 9, two active Illegal Refining Sites with one wooden boat, two ovens, three dugout pits and four drums laden with stolen crude oil were destroyed and seized at Okporoza creek and Tibo community Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
“On September 10, a newly constructed Illegal Refinery Site, one reservoir and one dugout pit laden with stolen crude oil were destroyed and seized at Odo-Bioku within Awoye Riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.”
According to the Navy’s spokesman, the troops on September 12 arrested two suspected sea robbers in their camp in Effiat community, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, while on September 13, they seized and destroyed two Illegal refineries, eight reservoirs, two dugout pits, 11 ovens laden with stolen crude oil and refined oil at Billie in Degema, Abua-Fekoru community, Borokiri and Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Giving further details, Commodore Aliu-Adams said troops recorded successful operation on September 14, when they arrested one suspected oil thief, destroyed four Illegal refineries with seven reservoirs, and 48 sacks laden with illegal refined oil around Igbigiba, Akasa, Ogboinbiri, Kasama-Azama and Isonogbene areas in Southern Ijaw in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
He said: While on September 15, one wooden boat, one fibre boat and 12 sacks containing stolen crude oil were seized around Brass River, Nembe and Odioma in Bayelsa State, on September 17, one large wooden boat laden with stolen crude oil was discovered around Asaramatoro of Rivers State.
“On September 19, four illegal refineries and two reservoirs laden with illegally refined automated gas oil were destroyed around Akasa, Gbaran-Azagbene of Bayelsa State.”
The Navy’s spokesman said troops also recorded some breakthroughs on September 21 around Fishtown, Sangana River and Igbematoro in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, where they destroyed one illegal refining site, one oven, and one dugout pit laden with stolen crude.
He said the troops also repeated the same feat around Brass River, Nembe and Ogbolomabiri, where they destroyed and seized one illegal refining site, one oven, three dugout pits, two reservoirs and one wooden boat laden with stolen crude.