Troops of Sector 2 while on routine patrol at Nembe Owelesu, Bayelsa State have encountered sea robbers at Abuja Open Water, Nembe.

In a statement, the Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche said that “the sea robbers on sighting the troop’s gunboats escaped into the creeks”.

However, the troops rescued 15 persons held hostage in five speed boats by the hoodlums.

Similarly, acting on a tip off, Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER patrol team intercepted and arrested three Barges (MV Rock 1, JULIANAH and an unnamed barge) laden with illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil AGO at AGIP waterfront for suspected involvement in illegal bunkering activities.

Major General Enenche said the Team also arrested another barge laden with suspected stolen crude oil around Okochiri River entrance.

Also, troops of Sector 3, Operation DELTA SAFE, conducted raid on four Illegal refining sites along Dema Abby – Oputumbi – Nanabie – Promise Land – Otobie and Ogono general area.

Recovered items
Enenche said items discovered and appropriately handled, include seven boilers, nine storage tanks, eight metal tanks, one dugout reservoir, all filled with stolen crude oil, eight metal tanks, 18 metal drums, 11 reservoir tanks filled with illegally refined AGO and Dual Purpose Kerosene DPK.

Also, two empty Cotonou boats, one generator set, one pumping machine, two welding machines, one filing machine, rolls of hose, and one speedboat mounted with 75 HP engine (used for illegal bunkering activities) were also discovered within the sites.

Additionally, troops of Sector 3 on patrol intercepted a barge laden with suspected illegally refined AGO around Orutoru general area of Rivers State.

Illegal refineries uncovered
Following intelligence report, troops of Headquarters Operation DELTA SAFE discovered and appropriately handled an illegal refining site at Uzere community at Ughelli North LGA of Delta State.

Enenche said troops of Sector 2 Operation DELTA SAFE deployed along KCTL pipeline at Odau Community in Abua/Odual LGA of Rivers State arrested three suspected pipeline vandals around Shell Petroleum Development Company pipeline.

He noted that a total of three weapons were recovered, 48 illegal refineries, 28 surface metal storage tanks, 60 cooking ovens and 18 Cotonou boats amongst others were discovered while about 58,500 litres of DPK, 11, 750 litres of PMS, 855,900 litres of AGO and an estimated 1, 507,000 litres of crude oil were seized by troops.

All rescued victims, recovered items and arrested suspects are to be handed over to the appropriate authorities at the end of preliminary investigation.

Armed Forces of Nigeria urged the general public to continue to give credible information which would assist the military to rid the country of economic saboteurs.

By Nneka Ukachukwu