Troops of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army have neutralised two suspected oil thieves and apprehended 18 others during different anti-illegal bunkering operations in the Niger Delta.

The army said in a statement on Monday that the operations were held in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers.

It said soldiers also destroyed 13 illegal refineries, seized 60,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in seven boats, and recovered two AK-47 rifles. He further said that eight illegal connection points installed on wellheads and pipelines were uncovered during the operations.

The army stated that vandals engaged the troops in a gun battle while raiding illegal refining sites in Ahoada West LGA.

It further stated that troops dismantled four illegal refining sites, seized two boats, and confiscated 6,000 litres of stolen petroleum products during an operation in Bille, Rivers.

The statement said that in other operations at Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and Okirika in Rivers, soldiers destroyed three illegal refining sites.

In Delta, the army disclosed that soldiers intercepted a wooden boat siphoning crude oil from Wellhead 8 at Okpoko Oil Field, Warri South LGA.

It said that during an operation in Ika North LGA, troops arrested nine suspects and seized 2,000 litres of stolen crude oil.

It said in Ekeremor, Bayelsa, soldiers arrested nine suspects, destroyed three illegal refining sites, recovered 14,000 litres of petroleum products 1,500 litres of crude oil, and intercepted four boats.

(NAN)