Troops Arrest 5 Oil Thieves, Deactivate 46 Illegal Refineries In Rivers State

Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested five suspected oil thieves while deactivating 46 illegal refineries in Ogba/Egbema local government area of Rivers state.

Acting Deputy Director of the Nigerian Army 6 division Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

The Army spokesperson added that boats used to ferry stolen products and thousands of litres of stolen products were recovered in the remote creeks during the operation.

He added that operation was successful as a result of intelligence gathering.

According to the statement, the Army engaged armed vandals in a shootout before arresting the suspects.

The statement also indicated that stolen crude oil packaged in sacks were also confiscated by troops during the operation.

The illegal refineries, he said, were deactivated and destroyed in line with professional best practices according to the military.

The statement also quoted the General Officer Commanding 6 division Nigerian Army Major General Jamal Abdulsalam as reassuring that the division will continue to conduct operations to safeguard critical national infrastructures in the Niger Delta region.