Staff Writer
The military high command claims that in the previous two weeks, it has found and destroyed no fewer than 23 illegal crude oil refineries and detained 60 alleged oil thieves.
On Wednesday, during the military’s biweekly press briefing in Abuja, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, made this announcement.
Since President Bola Tinubu ordered security services to stifle oil theft, there has been a tighter clampdown on the crime.
The military spokesman gave a press conference on Thursday and stated, “Troops of Operation Delta Safe recovered 367,200 liters of crude oil, 27,150 liters of automotive gas oil, 550 rounds of ammunition of various types, 12 calibres of weapons, seven empty.
In addition to apprehending 60 suspected criminals during this time, troops also destroyed 22 illegal refinery sites, 15 wooden boats, 34 storage tanks, 96 ovens, and 16 dugout pits.
Buba claims that the military has prevented the theft of crude oil worth N202,788,300.00 through operations over the past two weeks.
He also justified the military’s choice to fire a ship headed for Cameroon that was carrying stolen crude oil.
Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and members of the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, set fire to an oil tanker carrying 800,000 liters of stolen crude oil in Delta State on July 11.
The House of Representatives warned the military and other security services not to burn vessels containing stolen crude on Tuesday in response to critiques of the burning of the vessel from various quarters.
On Thursday, Buba responded to the complaints by saying that the burning of the vessel followed military SOPs for dealing with crude oil that had been stolen.
“There are Standard Operating Procedures regarding arrested machinery, tools, and vessels, among other things, that are connected to oil theft,” he stated. This process requires that such all machinery, vehicles, and watercraft must be destroyed right away.
When asked if the military would change the law, he responded, “In the military, we follow orders. We follow any orders we are given. We will use it if it is reviewed while we operate. We use the laws that have been given to us; we do not create the laws.
Regarding other military operations during the past two weeks, the military spokesman reported that forces raided no fewer than four IPB members’ hideouts and detained 12 people in the South-East.
According to him, Operation Whirl Punch forces in the Northwest neutralized nine terrorists and detained 15. He also mentioned the rescue of 20 kidnapped individuals.
He claimed that during operations in North Central, “troops of Operation Whirl Stroke recovered one AK47 rifle, one fake pistol, one locally made pistol, one pump-action ammo, 14 rounds of 7.62mm special, a motorcycle, cartridge, a mobile phone, machete, axe, fake Nigerian Police ID card, and the sum of N35,000.00 only.
In addition, troops “neutralized nine bandits, detained ten suspects, and freed nine kidnapped civilians.”
