Troops of the 5 Battalion, Nigerian Army, have intensified operations against illegal refining in Rivers State, arresting eight suspects and seizing over 2,000 litres of condensates.
The arrests were made along the Orashi River in the Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area (LGA), where the suspects were found transporting the illegal products on motorcycles.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah, who explained that the operations are part of a broader effort to curb illegal bunkering and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region.
Additionally, troops of the 29 Battalion identified and destroyed nine illegal refining sites around the Imo River, seizing over 15,000 litres of illegally refined products. The suspects have been handed over to the relevant authorities for prosecution, according to the statement.
Lt. Col. Danjuma further stated that in a related operation, troops of the 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, supported by other security agencies, dismantled illegal refining sites along the fringes of the River Niger, near Ndokwa East and Ndoni LGAs in Delta and Rivers States.
He disclosed that following credible intelligence, the troops destroyed several items, including eight cooking pots, three storage tanks, three large storage dugouts, twelve feeders, and over 2,000 litres of crude oil stored in a metallic oven.
The 6 Division Media Deputy Director said two wooden boats, containing more than 10,000 litres of condensates, were seized after being abandoned by criminals in the creeks. The boats were handled in line with the mandate of Operation Delta Safe.
The Nigerian Army urged residents of the affected communities to report any criminal activities to security agencies, stressing the significant environmental hazards posed by these illegal operations, the statement revealed..