Troops of Operation Delta Safe have arrested 42 suspected oil thieves and recovered significant quantities of stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products during recent operations across the Niger Delta region.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, disclosed these achievements during a briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
According to Kangye, security forces recovered 201,345 litres of stolen crude oil, 29,730 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, and 1,759 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene in the past week. The operations also led to the discovery and destruction of 18 crude oil cooking ovens, 32 dugout pits, 16 boats, 21 storage tanks, 17 drums, and 19 illegal refining sites.
Kangye stated, “Other items recovered include pumping machines, drilling machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones and 13 vehicles. Furthermore, 42 oil thieves and other criminals were arrested, while assorted arms and ammunition and some explosives were also recovered.”
In a significant development, troops apprehended a notorious cult leader identified as Prince Johnson Ishirim, also known as Commander Junior, along with 13 other suspected criminals and kidnappers.
These arrests occurred in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, as well as Oshimiri, Warri South and Ukwani Local Government Areas of Delta State. “Weapons and ammunition, as well as vehicles and motorcycles, were recovered from them,” Kangye confirmed.
The military operation extended to Bayelsa State where troops raided a criminal hideout in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area on July 10, arresting 28 oil thieves and some drug dealers.
