THE GUARDIAN

Defence Headquarters has said troops of Operation Delta Safe destroyed 38 illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta region within two weeks.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, according to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) made this known, yesterday, in Abuja while giving updates of military operations across the country from February 10 to 24.

Onyeuko said that 100 metal storage tanks, 25 dugout pits, 75 cooking ovens, 20 Cotonou boats, 35 Yamaha pumping machines, 15 coolants as well as 10 tankers were recovered from the refining sites.

He added that 35 galvanised pipes illegally connected were also destroyed.

According to him, 13 economic saboteurs associated with pipeline vandalism were arrested while recovered items and apprehended criminals have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further actions.

Onyeuko said the troops recovered 1.1 million litres of illegal Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 2.0 litres of stolen crude oil during the period.

He said the operations were conducted in different locations in creeks, villages, towns and communities in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River and Abia.