Defense Headquarters says troops from Operation Delta Safe and Operation Dakatar da Barawo discovered and destroyed 167 illegal refineries in the Niger Delta in three weeks.
Defense Media Operations Director Major General Bernard Onyeuko said this while briefing reporters on the operations of the armed forces between April 28 and May 19, Thursday in Abuja.
In Operation Delta Safe, Onyeuko said troops destroyed 17 illegal refineries with five wooden boats, 89 storage tanks, 59 furnaces, 12 wells, six pumps, five trucks, two outboard motors and two weapons.
He said that a total of 778,500 liters of crude oil, 840,300 liters of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 625 liters of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) were also recovered.
It said that 18 criminals were also arrested during the period, adding that all recovered items and detained criminals were handed over to the relevant authorities for further investigation.
According to him, the troops together with the Nigerian Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested some drug suspects during the raid operations at their hideout in Effurun in Urwie Local Government Area of Delta State.
“Items recovered from them include 2,460 kg of cannabis, 0.0703 kg of cocaine, 0.054 kg of methamphetamine, 0.067 kg of noisy, 0.654 kg of cannabis seeds, a molly tablet, a pump action with 15 cartridges, a Toyota Hilux and a Mercedes Benz. car,” she said.
In Operation Dakatar da Barawo, Onyeuko said troops destroyed 150 illegal refineries with 59 furnaces, 67 metal storage tanks and four Cotonou wooden boats.
It said the operations also led to the recovery of a Yamaha engine, a generator, three pumping machines, 20,000 liters of kerosene, 1.6 million liters of AGO and 2.05 million liters of crude oil.
According to him, all the items recovered have been handed over to the corresponding authorities so that they can take the necessary measures.
(YAYA)