Oil theft: Troops intercept 8 suspects, recover stolen products in Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom

Troops of the 6th Division of the Nigerian Army have intercepted eight (8) suspects carrying out illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism and other criminal activities in Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States.

The Deputy Director, 6th Army Public Relations Division, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, disclosed this in a statement made available to DAILY POST.

He said the suspects were intercepted at River Nun in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in two (2) fibreglass boats carrying bags of stolen goods with an estimated volume of over one thousand (1,000) litres.

“At Clough Creek in Ekeremor Local Government Area, troops intercepted a suspect with destroyed NAOC armoured cables, a saw, an iron bar and a shovel in a locally made wooden boat.

“In addition, troops in Apuama, Southern Ijaw, shut down an illegal refinery and seized over 3,000 stolen products.

“This feat was also recorded in Okegbene Creeks where two illegal refineries, barrels and a wooden boat were destroyed.

“Over 10,000 litres of stolen products were also seized during the operations. The same also happened in Obotoro Creek, where a wooden boat carrying over 1,500 litres of stolen crude oil was intercepted,” he explained.

Danjuma also said that the troops intercepted six (6) barrels of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, estimated to be one thousand five hundred (1,500) litres at Ibaka bank in Mbo Local Government Area of ​​Akwa-Ibom State.

He said: “The products were prepared for further smuggling via waterways to a neighboring country.”

“All those arrested have been handed over to the public prosecutor’s office. The confiscated products will be dealt with in accordance with the regulations in force in the region.”