Troops of Operation Delta Safe apprehended 42 suspected oil thieves and recovered large quantities of stolen crude oil and illegally refined products in the last one week.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, made this known while briefing journalists on the operations of the armed forces on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Kangye said the troops recovered 201,345 litres of stolen crude oil, 29,730 litres of illegally refined automotive gas oil (AGO) and 1,759 litres of dual-purpose kerosene (DPK).

He added that troops also discovered and destroyed 18 crude oil cooking ovens, 32 dugout pits, 16 boats, 21 storage tanks, 17 drums and 19 illegal refining sites.

He listed other recovered items to include pumping machines, drilling machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones and 13 vehicles.

He said, “Furthermore, 42 oil thieves and other criminals were arrested, while assorted arms and ammunition and some explosives were also recovered.’’.

Mr Kangye further disclosed that the troops apprehended a notorious cult leader identified as Prince Johnson Ishirim, otherwise known as Commander Junior and 13 other suspected criminals/kidnappers in the Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, Oshimiri, Warri South and Ukwani local government areas of Delta State.

He added that weapons and ammunition, as well as vehicles and motorcycles were recovered from them.

The director said that the troops also raided a criminals’ hideout in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa and arrested 28 oil thieves and some drug dealers on July 10. 

(NAN)