Crude oil and petroleum products valued at ₦3,500,435,234.00 were recovered from oil thieves in the Niger Delta region within the past three months, the Defence Headquarters has revealed.
The recoveries were made following several operations conducted by troops of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), a military onslaught targeting oil thieves, pirates, and pipeline vandals in the region.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, who disclosed the seizures during a briefing in Abuja on Thursday, said troops also destroyed 174 illegal refining sites and recovered 45 vehicles from oil vandals.
He gave the breakdown of the seized products as 2,381,239 litres of stolen crude, 605,393 litres of illegally refined AGO (popularly known as diesel), 41,465 litres of DPK (kerosene), and 26,905 litres of PMS (petrol).
No fewer than 12 oil thieves and other criminals were arrested, while assorted arms, ammunition, and explosives were recovered. “Fifteen victims abandoned by suspected militia/pirates were rescued by troops during an offensive operation in Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on June 28,” Maj.-Gen. Kangye said.
He added that troops discovered and destroyed 52 crude oil cooking ovens, 21 dugout pits, 11 boats, 36 storage tanks, 36 drums, and 25 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include pumping machines, drilling machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones, and six vehicles.
Giving an update on military successes against terrorists and bandits in the past three months, the defence spokesman said troops killed several terrorist kingpins and their foot soldiers, arrested over 1,191 of them, and rescued 543 kidnap victims. He added that during the quarter, about 682 terrorists and their families surrendered to troops.
Among the terrorists eliminated on the battlefield were the dreaded Amir Abu Fatimah, Kinging Auta, Abdul Jamilu, Salisu, Mallam Jidda, Maiwada, Mai Dada, and Nwachi Eze, a commander of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (ESN), otherwise known as Onowu.
“Two days ago, bandit kingpin Yellow Danbokkolo succumbed to injuries sustained during an encounter with troops,” he said.
He added that some notorious gunrunners and kidnappers on the troops’ watchlist, including Buhari Umar, Hassam Mohammed, Saleh Sani, Adamu Dan Mai, Idi Yusuf, Hassan Bello, Muhammed Isah, Shimu Ilu Adamu, Ismaila Ilu Hassan, Michael, and Shittu Muazu Bakassi, were arrested.
