The Nigerian military says, the Land, Maritime and air components of operation DELTA SAFE have sustained offensive posture to deny criminals and thieves were denied a total of Seven Hundred Thirteen Million, Six Hundred Ninety Nine Thousand Six Hundred Naira (N713,699,600.00) only in their illegal operations in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers State respectively.
Major General Musa Danmadami, Director Media Defence Operations said this durinf a recent media briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
General Danmadami said, during the operations several illegal refining sites, equipment and petroleum products were recovered and destroyed while some suspected oil thieves and pipeline vandals were also apprehended.
Cumulatively, within the weeks in review, troops of operations DELTA SAFE in the conduct of Operation OCTOPUS GRIP discovered and destroyed 57 illegal refining sites, 953 cooking ovens, 68 wooden boats, 172 storage tanks and 149 dugout pits.
Also recovered were 445,000 litres of crude oil, 1,043,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 22,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 2,000 litres Dual Purpose Kerosine, 1 AK47 rifle, 8 tankers, 63 vehicles, 2 speed boat, 1 thug boat, 14 motorcycles, 1 tricycle, 3 bicycles, 11 pumping machines and 3 outboard engines, while 21 oil thieves and pipeline vandals were apprehended.
The large quantity of illegal crude oil and other petroleum product recovered and destroyed and the number of arrested oil thieves and pipeline vandals, shows the unrelenting efforts by the troops of Operation DELTA SAFE in denying them freedom of action.