The military high command says it has uncovered and dismantled 23 illegal crude oil refineries, while also apprehending 60 suspected oil thieves in the past two weeks.
Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed these developments during the military’s biweekly press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
The intensified crackdown on oil theft comes in response to a directive from President Bola Tinubu, urging security agencies to take decisive action against this illicit activity.
According to the military spokesman, troops of Operation Delta Safe were responsible for the remarkable achievements, recovering 367,200 litres of crude oil, along with 27,150 litres of Automotive Gas Oil.
Additionally, they seized 550 assorted rounds of ammunition and 12 calibres of weapons, among other items, during their operations.
Operatives of the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, in collaboration with Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, had on July 11 set ablaze an oil vessel laden with 800,000 litres of stolen crude oil in Delta State.
Why we burn illegal vessel, stolen crude oil – Military
The burning of the vessel drew criticisms from some quarters with the House of Representatives, on Tuesday cautioning the military and other security agencies to desist from burning vessels with stolen crude.
Reacting to the criticisms while fielding questions from journalists on Thursday, Buba said the burning of the vessel was in line with military’s Standard Operating Procedures on stolen crude oil.
He said, “There are Standard Operating Procedures concerning arrested vehicles, equipment, and vessels, among others, that are associated with oil theft. That procedure stipulates that such equipment, vehicle, or vessels should be destroyed instantly.”
Asked if the military would be amending the law, he said, “In the military, we work with instructions. Whatever instructions we get, we operate with it. If it is reviewed, we will operate with it. We do not make the laws, we work with the law given to us.”
Other Military Operations
On other military operations in the last two weeks, the military spokesman said troops raided no fewer than four hideouts of the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and arrested 12 in the South-East.
He said in the North-West, troops of Operation Whirl Punch neutralised nine terrorists and arrested 15. He added that 20 kidnapped civilians were rescued.
In North Central, he said, “In the course of the operations, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke recovered one AK47 rifle, one fabricated pistol, one locally-made pistol, one pump-action ammo, 14 rounds of 7.62mm special, a motorcycle, cartridge, a mobile phone, machete, axe, fake Nigerian Police ID card and the sum of N35,000.00 only.
“Troops also neutralised nine bandits and arrested 10 suspects while rescuing nine kidnapped civilians.”
