Navy not concerned in oil theft – DHQ

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed allegations that some army personnel and safety companies are concerned in oil theft and unlawful oil bunkering within the Niger Delta area.

Reacting to questions by journalists through the bi-weekly information convention on the operations of the army on Thursday, the Director Defence Info, Jimmy Akpor, a serious common, stated the allegations had been unfounded.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that between January and July, Nigeria misplaced a median of 437,000 barrels of oil a day to felony entities and people who illicitly faucet pipelines onshore and offshore within the Nigeria Delta area.

The value of the stolen oil at present costs is value greater than $10 billion, which is equal to N4.3 trillion (at N430 to a greenback).

In April, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC Restricted, Mele Kyari, disclosed that Nigeria misplaced $4 billion to grease theft on the price of 200,000 barrels per day in 2021.

He added that the nation already misplaced $1.5 billion to this point in 2022 as a result of pipeline vandalism has escalated.

Mr Kyari stated the nation was dropping 95 per cent of oil manufacturing to thieves at Bonny Terminal, Rivers State.

Lately, the NNPCL boss alleged that communities, non secular teams and safety companies had been concerned in oil theft.

However Mr Akpor stated the key stakeholders within the oil and gasoline business had an understanding of the workings of the business, saying it was unfair to tug the army into the actions of the criminals.

He stated the armed forces and different safety companies had continued to do their greatest to safeguard the nation’s financial belongings within the area.

Whereas giving an replace on army operations within the final two weeks, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Musa Danmadami, a serious common, stated that N1.2 billion was denied oil thieves by the army through the interval.

Mr Danmadami stated that whereas the sum of N664.8 million value of crude oil was seized from the criminals, N546.7 million value of diesel, N12.2 million value of Kerosene and N11.8 million value of petroleum had been additionally impounded.

He stated that the troops of Operation Delta Protected at the side of the Division of State Service had continued to conduct kinetic operations to disclaim felony components freedom of motion.

Mr Danmadami stated the intervention was important to sustaining a conducive surroundings for financial actions to thrive within the zone.

In keeping with him, the Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH on patrol at Forupa space of Bayelsa arrested a suspected sea robber referred to as Dibo, who has been on the needed listing.

“The suspect and his gang have been terrorising and robbing passenger boats alongside Southern Ijaw and its environs.

“Equally, troops raided a suspected felony hideout at Iriebe village in Oyigbo Native Authorities Space of Rivers and arrested 20 suspects with massive portions of substance suspected to be hashish sativa.

“Additionally, troops of Operation Delta Protected found and destroyed 67 unlawful refining websites, 11 picket boats, 218 storage tanks, 168 cooking ovens, and 61 dugout pits inside the interval underneath assessment.

“Troops additionally recovered 2.07 million litres of crude oil, 706,000 litres of Automotive Gasoline Oil, 15,500 litres of Twin Function Kerosene and 67,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

“Eight vehicles, three pumping machines, three outboard engines and three mills had been additionally recovered, whereas 5 pipeline vandals had been additionally arrested.

“All recovered objects had been handed over to the related authority for additional motion,” he stated.

Within the South-east zone, Mr Danmadami stated the army and different safety companies had sustained the momentum within the struggle in opposition to the unlawful actions of the proscribed Indigenous Individuals of Biafra (IPOB) and different criminals inside the zone.

He stated the troops had on 29 August encountered IPOB/ESN criminals at Idemiri in Ihiala Native Authorities Space of Anambra State and eradicated two of them whereas others fled with gunshot wounds.

He added that police operatives additionally raided IPOB/ESN camp at Izombe in Oguta Native Authorities Space of Imo, killing 5 of the criminals and recovering a cache of arms and enormous portions of arduous medication.

Within the South-west zone, the spokesperson stated the troops of 81 Division, on 26 August, foiled an try and smuggle 792 parcels of illicit medication suspected to be hashish sativa into the nation.

The consignment, value about N10 million, was intercepted by the troops at a checkpoint alongside the Ilaro-Benin Republic border.

“Equally, the joint border patrol troops carried out anti-smuggling operations at Sawa Sawa village alongside Owode-Apa bush path in Badagry Native Authorities Space of Lagos State.

“Comparable operations had been carried out at Oke-Agbede Waterside in Imeko Afon Native Authorities Space, Oyan Waterside, Yewa South, Yewa North and Ado-Odo/Ota Native Authorities Space of Ogun State.

“Consequently, a complete of 449 Jerri cans of PMS (30 litres), 529 (50kg) luggage of international rice and one automobile had been recovered.

“All recovered objects had been handed over to the Nigerian Customized Service in Abeokuta, Ogun State,” he stated.

(NAN)