- Troops dismantled 23 illegal refineries and arrested 25 suspects in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers.
- The operation seized 14 boats and 45,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.
- Four IPOB members were arrested in Delta State for illegal bunkering activities.
Troops of the Nigerian Army have dismantled 23 illegal artisanal refineries and apprehended 25 suspected operators in a major anti-bunkering operation conducted across three states.
The raids, carried out between January 12 and January 19, targeted illegal refining activities in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states.
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Lt.-Col. Danjuma Danjuma, spokesman for the Nigerian Army 6 Division in Port Harcourt, confirmed the operation, revealing that the soldiers seized 14 boats and confiscated 45,000 litres of various adulterated petroleum products.
The raids aimed to curb the illegal refining and bunkering of petroleum products, which have become a significant environmental and security concern.
The operation began in Rivers State, where troops intercepted a truck carrying over 15,000 litres of fake petroleum products along the Eneka-Tank stretch of the East-West Road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area (LGA).
On the same day, seven illegal refining sites were deactivated, four fibre boats were seized, and 12,000 litres of stolen petroleum products were recovered in the Karakarma area of Degema LGA.
Troops also targeted Imo Riverside, where they dismantled 13 illegal refining sites, destroyed 25 cooking drum pots and 24 receivers, and recovered 7,000 litres of stolen products.
In addition, other stolen goods, including motorcycles, boats, and metallic containers, were seized.
In Oshimili, Delta State, a sting operation led to the arrest of four suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who were allegedly involved in the illegal bunkering activities.
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The operation also targeted other areas, with more illegal refineries and stolen petroleum products confiscated.
Lt.-Col. Danjuma confirmed that all seized items and arrested suspects have been handled according to operational protocols.
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