.Recovers 190,000 litres of stolen crude
.As troops kill terrorist kingpin, recover arms in Zamfara
EMMANUEL NLEWEDUM, Port Harcourt and CHIDIMMA UCHEGBU ,Abuja
The Nigerian Army said its troops from the 6 Division, with headquarters in Rivers State has arrested eleven suspected oil thieves, and recovered 190,000 litres of stolen products in a recent operation in the Niger Delta region between December 30, 2024 and January 5, 2025.
This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by the spokesman of the 6 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma.
Danjuma in the statement said troops of the 6 Division, in collaboration with other security agencies, also destroyed 20 illegal refining sites in different locations and states in the region.
Danjuma disclosed that during the operations, 31 speed boats used for transporting stolen products were destroyed and seven vehicles were intercepted with 190,000 litres of stolen products recovered.
According to him, the operations were conducted around Oando well head at Benkrukru at okodia general area of yenagoa, Bayelsa State and around Omoku, in Ogba/Egbema/Nndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State as well as Delta State.
The statement reads in part, “Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, have scaled up the ongoing strangulation operations aimed at dismantling the network of criminal enterprise run by oil thieves in the Niger Delta Region.
“In the operations conducted across the joint operations area, 20 illegal refining sites were destroyed, Eleven suspected oil thieves were arrested, 31 boats used for transporting stolen products destroyed, seven vehicles intercepted with over 190,000 litres of stolen products recovered.”
He said, “In a deliberate operation conducted around Oando wellhead at Benkrukru at Okordia general area in Yenagoa, Local Government Area (LGA), Four oil sewage were discovered. The sewage was filled with over 70,000 litres of stolen crude. Additionally, one suction machine and about 700 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil ( AGO) packed in sacks were recovered.”
Relatedly, Danjuma hinted that at Amalaghakiri general area in Nembe LGA, two illegal refining sites were taken out, with over 15,000 litres of stolen products confiscated. While at Oyeregbene in Southern Ijaw LGA, one illegal refining site was destroyed with over 1,500 litres of stolen products handled appropriately.
He further stated that in Rivers State, around Omoku, troops closed on oil thieves, who fled in disarray on sighting troops. “Further exploitation led to the discovery of an illegal connection point on Oando Pipeline, around Ebocha with four boats ladened with over 22,000 litres of stolen products recovered.
“At Obiafu Oil field, in Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni LGA, wooden boats and dugout pits stocked with over 8,000 litres of stolen products were handled. Around Mgbede, 4 illegal refining sites, five wooden boats, 108 locally made ovens, several tanks with over 31,000 litres of stolen products were recovered.
“At the fringes of the Imo River, over 13,000 litres of stolen products were recovered with 2 illegal refining sites destroyed, 32 drums pots, 21 drum receivers, two pumping machines amongst several other ancillary equipments were also destroyed around Ozaa West, Obuzor and Okoloma areas.”
The 6 Division Spokesman also disclosed that in Delta State, troops on routine patrol along Pan Ocean Nigeria Limited Pipeline within Ivade in Ethiope West LGA intercepted vehicles involved in illicit activities. Two J5 Boxer vehicles with Reg Nos AB 5980 J and Delta Bkw 593 XA with over 150 cellphone bags stocked with over 7,500 litres of stolen products were intercepted.
According to him, other seizures estimated to be about 2,500 litres of crude oil were effected at Ikengbensi waterways in Isoko South LGA. While in Akwa Ibom State, troops intercepted Eight drums of 280 litres stocked with premium motor spirit, estimated to be 2,240 litres at Ibaka beach. The products were suspected to be primed for smuggling to a neighbouring country.
The General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, while commending troops for their resilience, charged them to redouble their efforts. This, he maintained will create an enabling environment for socio-economic activities to go on unhindered in the region.
However, The military troops of 1 Brigade, Sector 2 Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma have neutralised a notorious terrorist kingpin, Sani Rusu, during a fighting patrol to Bamamu Village in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State on 4 January 2025.
On the same day, the troops of Operation Fansan Yamma during an ambush operation which was based on credible intelligence regarding terrorist activities at Kwanar Jollof in Shinkafi LGA, Zamfara State neutralized some terrorists while others sustained fatal injury.
Coordinator Joint Media Coordination Centre, Lt Col Abubakar Abdullahi in a press statement on a press statement revealed that the operation also led to the recovery of one AK47 rifle and one G3 rifle, alongside 8 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 4 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 3 magazines and 3 motorcycles.
In a separate operation, the Air Component Operation Fansan Yamma conducted air strikes on terrorists converging between Fakai and Kware area of Shinkafi LGA on 30 December 2024.
This airstrike was launched in response to intelligence indicating that terrorists, led by Bello Turji, had convened a meeting in the area. In a follow up operation on 2 January 2025, they further conducted air strikes at Maikaman Rini area of Sububu Forest in support of Operation Fansan Yamma ground troops operations against terrorists kingpin, Ibrahim Chumo’s camp in the area.
The troops also conducted offensive operations against Bello Turji’s camp in Chida area of Shinkafi on 5 January 2025. Aerial surveillance revealed the terrorists suffered significant casualties during these operations with several terrorists injured and their hideouts destroyed.
Operation Fansan Yamma remains committed to neutralizing all terrorist threats across the Joint Task Force Theatre of Operation and assures the public of its determination to maintain peace and security in the region. The Joint Task Force encourages continued cooperation from the community towards the achievement of its mandate.
For a better society
Follow us across our platforms:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/championnewsonline/
Facebook – https://web.facebook.com/championnewsonline
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/champion-newspapers-limited/
https://x.com/championnewsng/
You can also like and comment on our YouTube videos.
https://youtu.be/QIBfD1tT80w?si=R4Qf3so2LxYu3GC2
