Nigerian military operatives of Operation Delta Safe destroyed 81 illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta in the last two weeks.
It was gathered that the troops also destroyed 254 storage tanks, 173 cooking ovens, 118 dugout pits, and 36 wooden boats found at the sites.
Speaking in a press release, Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami,, added that the troops also arrested 81 suspected oil thieves in different locations during the conduct of “Operation Octopus Grip’’.
The troops also recovered 1.06 litres of crude oil, 391,000 litres of diesel, 11 cars, six tankers, eight pumping machines and three motorcycles in addition to two outboard engines, one tricycle, and five AK47 rifles loaded with 7.62mm special bullets, he said..
Danmadami said the troops also raided a suspected gunmen enclave at Ebem community in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River, arrested suspects and recovered arms and ammunition.
Troops nabbed five suspected bandits’ collaborators with N19.5m at Daudawa village in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
